The explosion took place around 9.45 pm near village 50 GB, approximately 45 minutes after a passenger train travelling from Anupgarh towards Suratgarh had crossed the location. The train passed safely, averting a possible tragedy. Railway services on the route were suspended for several hours as a precautionary security measure.
The impact of the explosion shattered two cement railway sleepers, damaged the tracks and left a crater nearly two feet deep. The blast was powerful enough to scatter gravel across the surrounding area. Its sound was reportedly heard in a nearby village, following which residents alerted the railway gatekeeper. He subsequently informed the railway authorities and police about the incident.
Following the alert, teams from the police, railway administration, Intelligence Bureau (IB), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) launched a coordinated investigation.
Ramsinghpur police personnel and other officials reached the site around 11 pm, cordoned off the affected area and restricted public movement to protect potential evidence. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the explosion, including its timing and the possibility that a morning train travelling from Anupgarh towards Bathinda could have been the intended target.
Security agencies are also investigating a possible cross-border connection because of the location's proximity to Pakistan. However, investigators have not established any direct link between the explosion and a terrorist organisation or anti-national group so far.
The incident has also drawn attention to an earlier recovery of weapons and explosives from a drone-dropped consignment in the Rawla Mandi area near the Pakistan border in October. The seized consignment contained 7.750 kg of RDX, two pistols, four magazines, 867 cartridges, five batteries and two remote controls.
Sriganganagar Superintendent of Police Harishankar said the investigation was still at a preliminary stage and that all possible angles were being examined. He clarified that no direct connection had been established between the railway track explosion and the explosives seized earlier.
The exact nature of the explosion and the identity of those responsible will be determined after the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report, the SP said.
With railway infrastructure damaged near the international border and multiple security agencies examining the incident, the investigation is focusing on the nature of the explosive, the possible target and whether the blast had any cross-border links.
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