Railway Sabotage Gujarat Railway Incident Railway Safety Social Media Fame NIA Investigation Fake Sabotage Plot Trackman Hero Hoax Indian Railways Worker Misconduct Public Safety
In a shocking turn of events, an attempted sabotage on railway tracks near Gujarat’s Kim station that initially sparked widespread panic turned out to be a hoax orchestrated by the very men responsible for maintaining the tracks. The incident, which could have endangered hundreds of lives, unfolded on Saturday when it was reported that crucial components had been removed from the railway lines, just minutes before a train was set to pass.
The discovery led to the involvement of central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and local trackman Subhash Podar was hailed as a hero for discovering the tampering in time. However, only three days later, investigations revealed that Podar, along with two other railway employees, had staged the sabotage themselves in a bid to gain fame, rewards, and ensure they could keep their night shifts for an extra day off.
The Incident: Panic and a Narrow Escape
At around 5:25 am on Saturday, trackman Subhash Podar alerted railway authorities that he had found locks and two fishplates—components connecting two rail tracks—removed on the railway lines between Kim and Kosamba stations. According to Podar, he noticed suspicious activity by three men who fled when he called out. Two trains had already passed over the tracks, including the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Express, and another was moments away before the line was closed for repairs.
Podar, assisted by fellow trackman Manishkumar Surdev Mistry and contract worker Shubham Jaiswal, quickly restored the tracks, seemingly preventing a disaster. The incident stirred panic across the region, with fears that it was part of a broader pattern of railway sabotage after similar incidents involving explosives on tracks in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Investigations Unravel the Sabotage Plot
Despite initial praise, the investigation quickly uncovered inconsistencies in Podar’s story. Key details did not align with the timeline, including reports from locomotive pilots of the trains that had already crossed the tracks. The 12952 Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Express had passed the affected area at 130 kmph just 25 minutes before Podar’s alert, with no signs of tampering. The process of removing fishplates and locks—71 bolts in total—would have taken at least two hours, raising suspicions that the sabotage was staged.
Investigators also noted that while Podar claimed to have seen three men fleeing the scene, no footprints or other evidence supported his account. Further, Podar’s claim of recording a video of the missing components was debunked when authorities found that he had downloaded a video on his phone at 4:57 am, well before he supposedly discovered the sabotage.
The Truth Unfolds: Staged Sabotage for Social Media Fame and Rewards
With mounting evidence against them, Podar, Mistry, and Jaiswal confessed to orchestrating the sabotage. They admitted that their motivation was to gain recognition, rewards, and ensure that night duty shifts—which allowed them a day off—would continue beyond the monsoon season. The trio had begun tampering with the locks on the tracks around 3 am, hiding whenever a train passed by. After the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Express had crossed safely, they hurried to remove the fishplates and then alerted authorities to the ‘sabotage.’
Their plot to manipulate the situation for promotions and social media fame not only risked countless lives but also undermined the trust placed in them as railway workers. The men now face legal consequences, and the incident has raised serious concerns about the lengths some individuals are willing to go for personal gain.
Lessons Learned
The staged sabotage at Kim station serves as a reminder of the importance of diligence and integrity in roles that impact public safety. While the workers aimed for personal advancement, their actions could have led to a catastrophe. The case highlights the need for rigorous checks and accountability within safety-sensitive industries and serves as a cautionary tale against the pursuit of short-term fame at the expense of public well-being.
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Railway Sabotage Gujarat Railway Incident Railway Safety Social Media Fame NIA Investigation Fake Sabotage Plot Trackman Hero Hoax Indian Railways Worker Misconduct Public Safety
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