A potentially disastrous train accident was narrowly avoided when the Nandan Kanan Express split into two near the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Junction in Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred due to a coupling failure, causing panic among passengers onboard. Fortunately, quick action by railway staff prevented any serious consequences.
Train Splits Due to Coupling Failure
The Nandan Kanan Express, traveling from Anand Vihar, Delhi, to Puri, Odisha, suffered a technical failure when the coupling of the sleeper coach (S4) detached, leaving the train in two separate sections. The coupling mechanism, responsible for connecting train coaches, failed near Chandauli district in Uttar Pradesh, triggering chaos among passengers.
Key Details of the Incident
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Train Name: Nandan Kanan Express
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Route: Anand Vihar (Delhi) to Puri (Odisha)
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Location: Near DDU Junction, Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh
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Date & Time: Monday, around 9:30 PM
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Affected Coaches: Sleeper coaches S4 and S5
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Casualties: None reported
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Delay: Over 3 hours
Passengers Recount Their Panic
The train, already delayed by more than three hours, had just departed platform number one of DDU Junction when the incident occurred. Within minutes, passengers inside the detached compartments felt a sudden jolt, followed by a loud noise.
"We thought something serious had happened. Fortunately, the train was moving at a slow speed, which prevented injuries," a passenger recalled.
Immediate Response and Repair Efforts
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Railway officials swiftly intervened, bringing the detached sections back to platforms 7 and 8 of DDU Junction.
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Passengers from the affected compartments were relocated to other coaches for their safety.
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Repair teams conducted inspections and reattached the train sections, allowing the journey to resume at around 1:00 AM after a delay of over four hours.
#WATCH | चंदोली, उत्तर प्रदेश: आनंद विहार से पुरी जा रही 12876 नंदन कानन एक्सप्रेस ट्रेन, स्लीपर S4 बोगी का कपलिंग टूटने से दो हिस्सों में बंटी। अधिक जानकारी की प्रतीक्षा है। pic.twitter.com/VnPdapE47b— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) March 4, 2025
Previous Similar Incident
This is not the first time coupling issues have posed a safety risk. In November 2023, a railway employee lost his life at Barauni Junction in Bihar after being crushed between a train engine and a coach during uncoupling. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw later cited miscommunication among railway staff as the primary reason for the tragedy.
Investigation Underway
Following the Nandan Kanan Express incident, railway authorities have launched an official investigation to determine the exact cause of the coupling failure and prevent future occurrences.
Although a major accident was avoided, this incident highlights the importance of regular maintenance and inspection of train components to ensure passenger safety. Authorities are expected to implement stricter safety measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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