SAMBA, September 22, 2026 – The Jammu Tawi-Kolkata Express came under attack late Monday night as it passed through the Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in significant damage to the locomotive’s windshield and prompting an immediate, high-level security response. The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. shortly after the train, operating as train number 13152, departed from the Jammu Tawi railway station en route to Kolkata. According to official reports, the locomotive pilot immediately alerted the railway control room after a loud impact shattered the front windowpane, initially unable to ascertain whether the severe damage was caused by heavy stone-pelting or gunfire. Reacting swiftly to the distress call, railway authorities completely halted train movement on the sensitive route for nearly three hours. A large contingent of security personnel, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police and railway security forces, quickly cordoned off the area to conduct comprehensive checks along the tracks and the surrounding terrain. Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, alongside Samba Superintendent of Police (SP) Anuj Kumar, arrived at the scene to personally oversee the preliminary investigations.
Following the thorough security sweep, the train was permitted to safely resume its journey, and the damaged locomotive engine was subsequently replaced at Pathankot to ensure the smooth continuation of the commute. SP Anuj Kumar later clarified that while the initial alarm raised by the pilot suggested a potential firing incident, preliminary on-ground investigations strongly indicate that the windshield damage was the result of deliberate and forceful stone-pelting. A formal case has been registered by the police and railway authorities, who are actively utilizing local intelligence and track surveillance to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. As a necessary precautionary measure during the active security operation, the Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express was also temporarily halted between Kathua and Samba, resulting in an approximate three-hour delay for its passengers. The Samba-Jammu rail corridor holds significant strategic sensitivity due to its proximity to the International Border and historical vulnerability to subversive activities, prompting authorities to substantially heighten vigilance and night patrols across the sector to prevent any recurrence of such disruptive acts.
Published by True Roots Media Network