Another train derails in Bihar, Naxal involvement suspected

Another train derailed in Motihari in Bihar on Wednesday morning, 60 kms away from the Chhapra Rajdhani Express derailment site, according to reports. The second derailment was of a goods train, said reports. [caption id=“attachment_1587679” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] Railways minister Sadananda Gowda said, “the prima facie reason for the goods train derailment in Motihari in Bihar seems to be sabotage,” implying a strong chance of Naxal involvement in the goods train derailment. While the railways suspected Naxal involvement in both the derailments, police said otherwise in the Rajdhani Express derailment in Chhapra. Sushil Kumar, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Chhapra, said, “We don’t have any evidence of sabotage. We are investigating all angles.” Chhapra MP and BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy arrived at the Rajdhani accident site. “It is too early to talk about Naxal involvement but the investigation is going on,” he said. “The magnitude of the accident is enormous. We have talked to the PM about this mishap.” According to CNN-IBN, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sources have said it is unlikely that the mishaps were Naxal-executed sabotage. However, Railway Board chairman Arunendra Kumar said that prima facie, the cause seemed to be sabotage, adding that Maoists had announced a blockade. Twelve bogies of the Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express derailed near Chhapra in Bihar, early this morning. At least four people died and around twelve were injured. Chhapra is 80 km northwest of Bihar’s capital Patna.