Railways beefs up security
In the wake of a Maoist threat to its trains and the Union home ministry issuing an alert to it, the Railways has decided to increase the security measures for its trains, particularly those that run through Naxal-affected states.
Other than intensified patrolling along tracks, the Railways has also asked the loco-drivers to observe speed restrictions and run trains at lower speeds while passing through Naxal-infested areas.
Also, the trains that can be likely targets are being escorted by pilot engines. Personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) have also been asked to be extra vigilant, said a railway official.
The Railways are also taking extra precautions in view of the targeting of the Jnaneswari Express on May 28 while it was moving through West Bengal. With the Naxals having removed a section of the tracks, the train got derailed and was hit by a freight train leaving as many as 148 passengers dead.
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