UP train mishap averted: Iron grill on track halts Gorakhpur-Humsafar Express in Lucknow; 8th sabotage bid since April

LUCKNOW: A train mishap was averted in the early hours of Sunday at around 3 am, when the Anand Vihar Terminal–Gorakhpur Humsafar Express (12572) collided with an iron grill deliberately placed on the railway tracks between Dilkusha and Malhaur in Lucknow.

This marks the eighth attempt at train sabotage in Uttar Pradesh, and the third in Lucknow since April.

Following the incident, Gomti Nagar police registered an FIR.

The case has been filed under sections 151 (damage to railway property) and 153 (endangering passenger safety) of the Railway Act against unknown persons, based on a written complaint by senior section engineer (P-Way) Rajiv Srivastava.

"At around 3.40 am, control was informed that 12572 had hit an iron grill placed on the Dilkusha–Malhaur section," the FIR stated.


After the incident, the train’s loco pilots removed the grill from the track. "Since the train was moving at low speed, the risk of derailment was reduced," said a Northern Railway official from the Lucknow division.

String of Sabotage Attempts in Uttar Pradesh
UP has witnessed multiple such attempts over the past few months:

• June 2025: A passenger train was saved from disaster near Dohna station in Bareilly after a ballast (crushed stones used to stabilise tracks) was deliberately jammed into the switch mechanism. Miscreants also bent an earthing plate linked to overhead equipment.

• 31 May 2025: A 12-foot iron pipe, ballast, and a broken concrete tube were placed on the Delhi–Shamli MEMU train’s route near Shamli station, but alert loco pilots spotted the obstruction in time.

• 29–30 May 2025: Ballast was found on the tracks between Bheerpur and Meja Road in Prayagraj, aimed at derailing the New Delhi–Bhubaneswar Tejas Rajdhani Express (22824).

• 19 May 2025: Two derailment attempts were reported in Hardoi district where logs were placed on the tracks to target the Delhi–Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express (20504) and Kathgodam Express (15044).

• 22 April 2025: A freight train hit a large metal door left on the tracks between Utraitai Junction and Bakkas, damaging pandrol clips that secure rails.

• 16 April 2025: A mango tree branch placed on the track caused a scare for the Delhi-bound Garib Rath Express in Malihabad.

• 6 October 2024: The Rae Bareli–Raghuraj Singh passenger train avoided derailment after a heap of soil was found on the tracks.

• 2 October 2024: A railway-owned fire extinguisher was found placed on the tracks near Ambiyapur station, Kanpur Dehat.

• 29 September 2024: Another fire extinguisher was spotted between Govindpuri and Bhimsen in Kanpur.

• 22 September 2024: A mini gas cylinder was discovered on a loopline at Prempur station in the North Central Railway zone.

• 16 September 2024: A wooden log caused engine failure to the Swatantrata Senani Express (12561) between Ghazipur Ghat and Ghazipur City.

• 9 September 2024: The Kalindi Express (14117) hit an LPG cylinder placed on the track between Barrajpur and Utripura.

• 6 December 2023: The Shiv Ganga Express (12560) ran over metal rail pieces in Khurja, Bulandshahr. Seven rail chunks were later recovered by police.