Overview
- A sleeper coach on the Delhi–Shri Vaishno Devi Katra Special split into two near the toilet section as the train began to depart Ludhiana station on Saturday morning, producing a loud cracking sound that caused panic.
- Railway teams and the Government Railway Police evacuated passengers from the affected coach, detached the damaged compartment, and arranged a replacement so the train could continue to Katra with no reported injuries.
- Initial inquiries by railway investigators point to mechanical and technical factors rather than sabotage, with early hypotheses citing coupling tension, vacuum-system pressure and possible hidden frame or maintenance defects.
- Witnesses and officials said several passengers briefly jumped from the coach fearing an explosion or derailment, underscoring how a similar failure at speed could have caused serious casualties.
- The probe will review the coach’s maintenance records, the coupling and chassis around the toilet area, and operational stresses to determine whether this reflects an isolated fault or a broader safety issue to watch for in rolling stock.