A suspected improvised explosive device (IED) blast on the Ambala–Amritsar rail corridor late Monday night has triggered a multi-agency investigation, raising fresh concerns over railway security in Punjab.
The explosion occurred near the Rajpura–Shambhu section, a sensitive stretch on the rail network. Teams from the Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Punjab Police and other agencies rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area for a detailed forensic examination.
In a disturbing development, an unidentified, severely mutilated body was recovered from near the blast site. Officials said efforts are underway to establish the identity of the deceased and ascertain any possible link to the explosion.
The incident has drawn added scrutiny as it comes days after an anonymous email warned of coordinated attacks on railway tracks across Punjab and Haryana. The message had flagged potential blasts along routes between Ambala and Delhi, while also naming locations including Ludhiana, Amritsar, Bathinda and Ferozepur.
This marks the second major railway blast incident in the state this year. On January 23, an explosion near Khanpur in Sirhind led to the derailment of a goods train engine, leaving the loco pilot injured.
Following the latest incident, security has been stepped up across critical rail infrastructure in the region. Investigators are exploring all possible angles, including sabotage, and have not ruled out the involvement of organised elements.
Separately, officials confirmed that the blast took place late Monday night on the Shambhu–Rajpura railway track in Patiala district, between approximately 9:00 pm and 9:30 pm. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident. Reports also indicate that a body was found at the site, while the force of the explosion created a crater measuring nearly two to two-and-a-half feet on the track.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patiala, Varun Sharma, along with senior police officials, has been leading the investigation since the night of the incident. Authorities are closely examining the blast site and surrounding areas to determine the exact cause and identify those responsible.