A goods train derailment in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, led to a startling incident of diesel theft, as fuel was reportedly looted from three wagons of the train. The derailment occurred on Thursday night when two wagons came off the tracks near a railway yard. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the accident.
The derailment disrupted rail traffic on the down line, but efforts were quickly made to restore services. According to officials, “Train movement was restored on one track in the Western Railway’s Ratlam division 12 hours after the incident.” Services resumed around 10 a.m. on Friday, October 4, 2024, although the schedules of 14 to 15 trains were impacted.
The goods train was transporting petroleum products from Rajkot to Bakania-Bhouri near Bhopal when it derailed around 10 p.m., about one kilometre from Ratlam railway station, near E Cabin. Videos circulating on social media show the aftermath of the derailment, capturing the damage and the looting.
Following the derailment, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Rajnish Kumar initiated an investigation into the cause of the accident. Public Relations Officer Khemraj Meena also confirmed that traffic on the down line, which serves trains heading towards Ujjain and Kota, has been restored.