A Vande Bharat Express travelling from Amritsar in Punjab to Delhi was delayed for about an hour at Sonipat railway station after a sharp iron bolt became lodged in one of its wheels, prompting safety concerns. Passengers onboard reported hearing a sudden loud noise moments before the train was brought to a halt.
The incident took place on Saturday near Sandal Kalai station in Haryana. Despite the unexpected situation, there was no panic or serious disruption for passengers, as the loco pilot acted swiftly and cautiously. Showing alertness and presence of mind, the pilot reduced speed and carefully drove the train to Sonipat station to ensure the safety of everyone onboard.
Once the train reached Sonipat, teams from the Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police immediately arrived at the station. Railway officials conducted a detailed technical inspection to assess the condition of the wheel and ensure there was no further risk before allowing the train to proceed.
After remaining halted for nearly an hour, the Vande Bharat Express was cleared to continue its journey towards Delhi. During this time, the occupied track caused temporary operational adjustments, with other trains scheduled on the same route being diverted to loop lines. While this led to minor delays for some passengers on other services, rail traffic continued to move without major disruption.
This incident follows another recent close call involving a Vande Bharat Express in Kerala. In that case, a train running from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram was approaching Akathumuri Halt in the Varkala–Kadakkavur section late at night when the loco pilot noticed an autorickshaw dangerously close to the tracks.
The pilot immediately applied emergency brakes and brought the high-speed train to a stop, narrowly averting a serious accident. Both incidents have highlighted the importance of vigilance and quick decision-making by train crew in ensuring passenger safety.
