A potentially disastrous train accident was narrowly avoided on Tuesday, April 8, when the Secunderabad–Howrah Falaknuma Superfast Express unexpectedly split into two sections while en route near Palasa in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district. The incident occurred between Summadevi and Mandasa Road stations when a coach decoupled from the rest of the train, abruptly severing the journey. The sudden jolt created panic among passengers, many of whom feared an imminent derailment or collision. Despite the alarming situation, there were no reports of injuries, bringing relief to all onboard.

Railway authorities responded swiftly to the scene to investigate the cause of the coupling failure. Preliminary assessments suggest a mechanical malfunction may have led to the decoupling, but officials have not ruled out other possibilities. Engineers and safety teams are inspecting the affected coaches and reviewing maintenance logs to determine if there were any lapses. In the meantime, passengers were assured of their safety and arrangements were made to reunite the train’s severed portions before it resumed its journey under close monitoring.

This incident comes on the heels of another rail scare involving the Secunderabad-Shalimar Express, which saw three coaches derail recently without any casualties. These back-to-back incidents have raised concerns about railway infrastructure and maintenance practices. Passengers are calling for stricter safety checks, especially for long-distance superfast trains. The Indian Railways, while praising the timely intervention of crew and emergency responders in both cases, has promised a detailed inquiry and immediate corrective action to prevent such events in the future.