Banaras-Mumbai Express loco pilot spots iron pipe on tracks, averts accident

A major accident was averted after the loco pilot of the Banaras-Mumbai LTT Express applied emergency brakes after spotting an iron pipe on the tracks between Iradatganj and Link Station in Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Thursday (July 23, 2026).

The train, travelling from Varanasi to Mumbai, was brought to a halt around 9 p.m. on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) after the obstruction was noticed on the track. The loco pilot immediately alerted railway authorities.

North Central Railway (NCR) Chief Public Relations Officer Shivam Sharma said the pipe appeared to have been thrown onto the tracks. It was hollow and rusted, he said.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has registered a case against unknown persons and launched an investigation into the incident.

The pipe was removed from the track, following which the train resumed its journey to Mumbai within a few minutes.