UP: Kanpur Rail Route Blast—Conspiracy or Prank? Suspicions Arise of Cylinder Being Thrown from Mahabodhi Express…

Kanpur. A five-liter LPG cylinder exploded on the Delhi–Prayagraj railway route, located just two kilometers from Kanpur Central Station, causing panic and chaos in the surrounding area due to the loud blast. The Police, RPF (Railway Protection Force), and Crime Branch officials conducted an investigation at the scene. A bag was found lying nearby, containing clothes, utensils, a mobile phone, an Aadhaar card, and other personal belongings. The Aadhaar card belongs to Om Prakash Mishra, a resident of Pratapgarh.

Railway personnel suspect that the cylinder may have fallen from the Mahabodhi Express, which had passed through the area shortly before the incident. Previously, small cylinders have been found on this route on several occasions. The Police and RPF have initiated an investigation to explore angles involving both conspiracy and mischief. According to DCP (East) Satyajit Gupta, an alert was received via the ‘UP 112’ emergency service on Wednesday night regarding an LPG cylinder catching fire and subsequently exploding on the Delhi–Prayagraj route.

A Torn Sack-Bag Also Recovered from the Scene
The cylinder was found lying in the Cantonment (Cantt) area, situated just two kilometers from the Central Station. Acting on the information, police teams from the Cantt, Railbazar, and Chakeri stations—along with the RPF—rushed to the spot. Local residents had already extinguished the fire in the cylinder. The cylinder was found lying along the edge of Railway Track No. 1017 DL-16. Police also recovered a torn sack-bag from the scene. Inside the bag were items such as a cooking pot (bhagona), a griddle (tawa), a bowl, a spoon, a mobile phone, an Aadhaar card, and other documents.

Suspected to Have Fallen from a Laborer’s Bag
The Aadhaar card identifies the owner as Om Prakash Mishra, a resident of Pratapgarh. An investigation is currently underway to determine whether the bag was deliberately thrown or if it fell accidentally. The police contacted his home in Pratapgarh for verification; his son confirmed that his father was returning home from Delhi. Om Prakash Mishra works as a security guard in Delhi. RPF CO (Commanding Officer) Vivek Verma stated that it is suspected the bag may have fallen from the train, likely belonging to a laborer. The Police and RPF are continuing their investigation into the matter. *Apprehension of

Cylinder Being Thrown Out During Gas Leak
Police experts have expressed concern that passengers may have thrown the cylinder out of the train in the event of a gas leak. A large hole was found on one side of the cylinder, raising fears of rapid gas leakage and a potential fire. A mobile phone and other documents were also recovered from the bag, suggesting that this action was taken in haste.

A Major Disaster Could Have Occurred
According to police sources, the Mahabodhi Express was traveling from New Delhi towards the Central Station. At this specific location, the train typically maintains a considerable speed. Under these circumstances, had the cylinder exploded in close proximity to the train, it could have resulted in a major disaster. The cylinder was found burning along the edge of the bushes, approximately seven feet away from the railway track.

Cylinders Recovered in the Past
An LPG-filled gas cylinder was struck by the Kalindi Express near Barrajpur station.
A fire safety cylinder was recovered on the Jhansi railway line, just beyond Govindpuri station.
A five-liter empty cylinder was found on the Prayagraj route near Maharajpur.
A fire safety cylinder was recovered along the railway track between Govindpuri and Panki stations.