A major train accident was narrowly avoided on Monday night when the Nandan Kanan Express (Train No. 12876) split into two parts shortly after departing from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Junction in Uttar Pradesh. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
The Nandan Kanan Express, en route from Anand Vihar in Delhi to Puri, Odisha, was already over three hours behind schedule. At around 9:30 p.m., as the train gradually picked up speed from Platform 1 at DDU Junction, the coupling of the S4 sleeper coach unexpectedly broke.
Just six kilometers from the station, the train separated into two sections. The front portion, including the engine and six coaches, moved approximately 200 meters forward before halting. The rear section, consisting of 15 coaches, including AC coaches and the guard’s van, remained on the track.
Railway officials acted promptly, guiding both sections of the train back to platforms 7 and 8 of DDU Junction. Passengers described experiencing sudden jolts and confusion, fearing a potential derailment. The authorities’ swift intervention helped prevent a dangerous situation.
Engineers inspected the damaged S4 coach and found it unfit for further travel. Affected passengers were relocated to other coaches to ensure their safety and comfort.
After thorough inspections and necessary repairs, the train resumed its journey at approximately 1:00 a.m. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the coupling failure.
