Three coaches of the Ujjaini Express derailed near Yog Nagari Railway Station in Uttarakhand’s Rishikesh during shunting operations late Monday night, officials said. No passengers were on board at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported.
The derailment took place around 9.30 pm in the Khand Gaon area. Restoration and repair work is currently underway at the site.
According to preliminary findings, the train derailed while undergoing shunting operations. Police personnel from the local Kotwali station reached the spot soon after receiving information about the incident.
Kotwali Inspector-in-Charge Kailash Chandra Bhatt said the derailment occurred during maintenance hours when the coaches were empty.
Residents nearby reported hearing a loud noise following the incident, prompting many to rush out of their homes and shops. Railway officials immediately cordoned off the area and halted movement on the affected tracks.
Sources said a technical fault or possible human error during shunting is suspected to have caused the derailment, although railway authorities have not yet confirmed the exact reason.
Officials said a detailed probe is underway and a technical team is preparing its report. Railway authorities are also conducting inspections of the tracks and damaged sections while continuing restoration work.
The incident comes amid a series of recent railway-related mishaps across the country.
Earlier on Monday, a coach of the Sasaram–Patna fast passenger train caught fire near Sasaram railway station in Bihar. No injuries were reported, and preliminary investigations suggested a short circuit as the likely cause. The coach caught fire shortly before the train’s scheduled departure around 6 am.
On Sunday, two rear coaches of the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express caught fire near Kota in Rajasthan. Railway officials said all passengers were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported.
Authorities said the Overhead Equipment (OHE) power supply was immediately shut down after the fire was detected, and the affected coach was detached. Officials added that the coach’s built-in safety systems functioned effectively, bringing the train to a halt soon after the incident.