Explosion on Amritsar-Howrah Mail injures 4

Four passengers were injured after a blast occurred in the general compartment of the Amritsar-Howrah Mail train, prompting some to jump from the moving locomotive. The injured have been identified as Ajay Kumar and his wife Sangeeta Kumari from Bhojpur, Bihar; Ashutosh Pal from Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh; and Sonu Kumar from Bishnupur, Bihar. They were admitted to Fatehgarh Sahib Civil Hospital for treatment.

The GRP DSP, Jagmohan Singh, said the explosion happened when a passenger carrying firecrackers in a bucket experienced a sudden fire, leading to the blast. Passengers panicked and jumped from the train as it approached the Sirhind railway station at a slow speed. Singh said no one has claimed ownership of the bucket and it remains unclear whether it belonged to any passenger. The police are investigating the incident and would take legal action as needed.

Ajay Kumar and Sangeeta Kumari were travelling home for Chhath Puja and had boarded the train at Phagwara. They described hearing a loud explosion, which caused other passengers to jump; however, they were unhurt due to the train’s slow speed. Ashutosh Pal was returning home for Bhai Dooj, having boarded the train in Amritsar. Sonu Kumar, also heading home for Chhath Puja, boarded from Jalandhar and jumped to escape what he perceived as a life-threatening situation.

Railway officials, along with the GRP and RPF, quickly arrived at the scene to assess the situation. The investigation into the cause of the fire and explosion is ongoing.