Jammu, October 26
Militants tonight set off a blast on a rail track, derailing five bogies of the Delhi-bound Shalimar Express at a place about 45 km from here. There was no casualty, senior railway officials said.Jammu Station Superintendent Mulkraj Sharma said the blast on the rail track occurred at a place between Sambha and Gagwal around 10.06 pm, almost an hour after the train left Jammu Tawi station.
The place is about 10 km from the Line of Control, with Pakistan and militants having triggered a number of blasts in the area in the past.
Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway Devendra Sandhu said since no passenger was hurt or killed, it could be reasonably assumed that the derailed coaches stood upright after having been thrown off the track.
The movement of all trains leaving and coming to Jammu was suspended till the damaged tracks were restored. It would take between 12 and 14 hours for the restoration, Northern Railway sources said.
All passengers were being taken back to Jammu. A medical relief train left for the blast site and senior Army, railway and police officials reached the spot for rescue operations.
Intelligence officials said the blast might have been the handiwork of militants from across the border, who wanted to divert the entire police force of the area had it been a major blast and secure the release of one of their associates held in jail there.
— PTI
