A major disaster was narrowly averted at Dakshineswar Railway Station on Wednesday night, July 29, 2026, when an 11,000-volt overhead electric (OHE) wire snapped and fell directly onto a local train. The incident occurred at approximately 8:50 PM as the Dankuni-Sealdah down local train was approaching the station platform, triggering intense sparks and thick smoke that caused immediate panic among commuters.
Key highlights of the incident:
- The incident involved a Dankuni-Sealdah down local train entering Dakshineswar station.
- No injuries or casualties were reported despite passenger panic.
- The train’s metallic structure acted as a Faraday cage, shielding passengers from the high-voltage current.
- Train services were suspended on the Sealdah-Dankuni route to facilitate emergency repairs.
- A high-level investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of the wire failure.
Safety Measures and Restoration
Following the frightening incident, railway authorities acted quickly to cut the power supply to the section. Emergency response teams, including Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, engineers, and fire department officials, reached the site immediately. A tower wagon was deployed to carry out urgent repairs on the damaged OHE wire. Railway experts have noted that the metallic body of the train acted as a Faraday cage, which was instrumental in preventing the electric current from entering the coaches and harming the passengers inside.
Impact on Rail Traffic
The disruption caused significant ripple effects across the Sealdah Main Line and Bongaon Line, leading to several hours of delays and heavy crowding at stations. While restoration work continued throughout the night, the railway administration worked to ensure safety protocols were fully met before resuming normal operations. The administration has now ordered a formal investigation to pinpoint the exact cause of the wire snapping and to ensure such infrastructure failures are prevented in the future. Passengers are advised to check the latest updates on the NTES app or official station announcements for continued schedule adjustments.