A dramatic incident unfolded late Monday night when the 12876 Nandan Kanan Express, en route from Anand Vihar to Puri, Odisha, split into two parts due to a coupling failure just 6 kilometers after departing Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Junction in Uttar Pradesh. The mishap, which occurred around 9:30 p.m., triggered widespread panic among passengers aboard the already delayed train.
The train, which had left platform Number 1 at DDU Junction over three hours behind schedule, encountered the malfunction in its S4 sleeper coach shortly after departure. As it approached the rail yard, the coupling gave way, detaching two coaches and splitting the train into separate sections mid-journey. The sudden division left passengers in a state of shock and confusion.
Railway authorities swiftly responded, rerouting both portions of the train back to DDU Junction. One section was brought to platform Number 7, while the other was stationed at platform Number 8. Engineers inspected the damaged S4 coach, declared it unfit for travel, and relocated its passengers to another compartment. After technical checks and rejoining the train, it resumed its journey around 1:00 a.m. Tuesday.
No major injuries were reported, but the incident left passengers rattled. “It was terrifying,” one traveler recounted. “The train just split, and we didn’t know what was happening.” Many expressed outrage at Indian Railways, blaming poor maintenance and safety oversight for the ordeal.
Railway officials confirmed that the coupling failure was to blame and assured the public that an investigation is underway to determine the cause. “We acted quickly to ensure passenger safety and get the train moving again,” a spokesperson said. The detached coaches were secured, and the situation was stabilized without further incident.
The disruption added to the frustration of passengers already contending with the train’s initial delay, amplifying calls for accountability. “This shouldn’t happen on a moving train,” one passenger fumed. “We deserve answers and better service.”
The Nandan Kanan Express incident has reignited concerns about the reliability of India’s vast rail network, a lifeline for millions, as authorities work to address safety and maintenance questions in the wake of the scare.
