Ranchi: A major rail accident was narrowly averted in the early hours of Sunday on the Silli–Bokaro railway section in Jharkhand after a coach of the Shravani Mela Special train, travelling towards Madhupur, derailed, officials said.

A large number of Kanwariyas were travelling on the train when the incident occurred. All passengers were reported safe, with no casualties, according to officials.

Railway officials said Train No. 08895, the Madhupur Shravani Mela Special, was proceeding towards Madhupur at around 2:30 a.m. when its third coach from the engine went off the tracks near pole number 354/SA4. The sudden derailment brought the train to an abrupt halt with a loud noise and briefly caused panic among passengers.

Soon after receiving information, railway officials, along with teams of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP), reached the spot to assess the situation and begin relief operations. A technical team was deployed and started rescue and restoration work. The derailed coach was brought back onto the tracks.

As a precaution, authorities decided not to allow the coach to continue the rest of the journey. It was stationed at the Muri yard, and the Kanwariyas travelling in it were safely evacuated.

The derailment disrupted rail traffic on the section for some time, and the routes of several trains operating through the stretch were altered. The technical team carried out repair and restoration work on the damaged portion of the track, completing it at approximately 5:15 a.m. on Sunday. Train operations on the Bokaro section then resumed, and normal movement was gradually restored.

Railway authorities have ordered an investigation into the incident to establish the exact cause of the derailment and the circumstances that led to the coach leaving the tracks. Officials are examining the condition of the track and other technical aspects as part of the inquiry. Further details are awaited.