A Vande Bharat Express operating between Banaras and Khajuraho experienced a delay of more than four hours on Sunday following a technical fault in its rear pantograph shortly after departure. Railway authorities halted the train at Varanasi Junction for repairs as a safety measure.
Incident Details
Train 26506 departed Banaras station under the Northeastern Railway on schedule at 5:15 am but was forced to stop at Varanasi Junction under Northern Railway just 13 minutes later when the fault was detected. Varanasi Junction is not a scheduled halt for this service, but officials confirmed the train was stopped to ensure passenger safety.
Technical Issue and Response
The pantograph, which draws power from overhead electric lines, developed a technical snag that required extensive inspection and repair. Senior officials from Northern Railway's Lucknow division, including Additional Divisional Railway Manager Brijesh Kumar Yadav and Station Director Arpit Gupta, rushed to the site to oversee restoration efforts. Officials from Northeastern Railway, responsible for the train's maintenance, also joined the operation.
Railway teams worked for over four hours to rectify the fault and conducted detailed safety checks on the train's front pantograph before clearing it for service. The train finally resumed its journey at 9:35 am, running 4 hours and 7 minutes behind schedule. It reached Khajuraho at 4 pm.
Passenger Amenities and Inquiry
A Northern Railway Lucknow division spokesperson stated that passenger amenities, including air conditioning, refreshments, and drinking water, were maintained during the delay. Railway authorities have ordered an inquiry into the incident to prevent future occurrences.
