Dehradun, 4 April 2025: There was a stir in the Jan Shatabdi Express going from Dehradun to New Delhi on Friday when a wheel of the engine of the moving train suddenly started melting. This rare and dangerous incident happened when the train was approaching a junction. The quick presence of mind and timely action of the loco pilot averted a major accident, but this incident has again raised questions on the technical flaws of Indian Railways.

What happened at the spot?

On Friday morning, the Jan Shatabdi Express (train number 12055) left Dehradun on its scheduled time. There were hundreds of passengers on the train, who were heading towards New Delhi. As soon as the train reached a junction, the loco pilot felt an unusual sound and heat from the engine. On suspicion, he immediately stopped the train by applying emergency brakes. The scene that came to light when he got down and investigated was shocking. The loco pilot said, “I saw that one of the wheels of the engine was melting. Some part of the railway track below it was also damaged. If there had been a delay of a few more minutes, the train could have derailed.”

The local railway officials were immediately informed about this incident. The engineers who reached the spot found that even the clips of the track were affected due to the melting of the wheel. There was panic among the passengers at that time, but the railway employees handled the situation and kept everyone safe.

Experts’ opinion: How was the accident averted?

Railway technical experts say that melting of the wheel could be the result of abnormal friction or excessive heat. An expert, on the condition of anonymity, said, “This happens when there is a fault in the brake system or the material of the wheel is weaker than the prescribed standards. If the loco pilot had not stopped the train, the engine could have lost its balance and the train could have derailed.” The incident has raised questions over the railways’ maintenance system, especially when it comes to high-speed trains like the Jan Shatabdi.

Passenger experience

A passenger on the train, Rakesh Sharma, said, “We were nervous due to the sudden halt. When we found out that the wheel had melted, we started panicking. But the staff calmed us down and handled the situation.” Another passenger, Anita Mehta, said, “It gives me goosebumps to think what would have happened if the train had moved ahead. The loco pilot saved our lives.”

Railway response and next steps

Railway engineers and officials immediately rushed to the spot after the incident. An investigation has been initiated into the damaged engine, and arrangements are being made to send the train to New Delhi after repairs. A Northern Railway official said, “We are conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. The reasons for the melting of the wheel will be ascertained so that such incidents do not happen in future. Passenger safety is our priority.”

However, the railways did not clarify for how long the train was halted or whether alternative arrangements were made for the passengers. According to sources, a new engine was called in, after which the train was dispatched.

Context of recent events

This incident has happened at a time when the Indian Railways has been grappling with several accidents in recent times. On Tuesday, 65-year-old loco pilot Gangeshwar Mal was killed in a collision between two freight trains in Jharkhand’s Sahebganj district. It was his last day on the job, which sent a wave of grief across the region. However, in that case, NTPC had said that the accident took place on their MGR line, which does not come under the jurisdiction of Indian Railways. Still, these incidents have raised questions on the safety system of the railways.

Analysis: What does this incident say?
This incident of Jan Shatabdi Express is a warning for the Indian Railways. Being one of the fastest trains in the country, trust on its technical reliability is extremely important. Railway experts believe that old infrastructure, careless maintenance and lack of resources could be the major reasons behind such incidents. A railway analyst said, “This is not just a matter of a wheel. It exposes the weaknesses of the system. If it is not corrected in time, there can be big dangers in the future.”

The way forward

For now, the railway is trying to learn a lesson from this incident. Only after the results of the investigation will it be clear whether the melting of the wheel was due to a technical fault or some other reason. But this incident underlines the challenge of maintaining trust among passengers. The loco pilot is being praised everywhere, whose alertness saved hundreds of lives.

The question still remains whether the Indian Railways is ready to prevent such incidents? The answer lies in investigation and improvements, which will come out in the coming days. Until then, this incident is a lesson—compromise on safety should never be accepted.