Jharkhand: 'Bomb Blast' on Rail Tracks Derails Diesel Locomotive

The site of the train derailment near Dhanbad.

(Photo: Vishnukant Tiwari/The Quint)

A diesel locomotive train was derailed on Saturday, 20 November, after an explosion ripped off a part of a railway track in Jharkhand's Dhanbad division. According to officials, no death or injury was caused in the incident.

Initial inquiries indicate that the bomb was planted by Naxalites, according to sources, though no Naxalite organisation has claimed responsibility for the incident yet.

The Railways said the "bomb blast" occurred between Garwa Road and Barkana section in the Dhanbad division.

(Photo: Vishnukant Tiwari/The Quint)

Several senior Railways officers have travelled to the scene of the incident to investigate it along with the police. Repairs on the track are underway,

"Unusual incidence of bomb blast by miscreant caused derailment of diesel loco on Dhanbad Division," the Railways had earlier said in a statement.

(Photo: Vishnukant Tiwari/The Quint)

Naxalite groups have been threatening unrest in the region for the past few days, following the arrest of wanted Communist Party of India (Maoist) politburo committee member Prashant Bose and his wife Sheela Marandi on 12 November.

They sent out a message for a 'Bharat bandh' from 19-20 November, and blew up the tracks at the Tori Richughuta Dam station, causing changes to several train routes.