By A significant disruption occurred on the Konkan Railway route this past Monday afternoon when a high-speed Vande Bharat Express train struck a herd of buffaloes. The incident took place between the Sindhudurg and Kudal stations, leading to a complete standstill of rail traffic for nearly three hours. This unfortunate accident not only resulted in the death of the animals but also caused extensive damage to the railway infrastructure, affecting thousands of commuters who rely on this busy coastal route.
The train involved was the CSMT–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, which had started its journey from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus early in the morning at approximately five thirty. According to reports from railway officials, the train was traveling near Oros station around eleven thirty in the morning when a herd of four buffaloes suddenly wandered onto the tracks. The locomotive pilot noticed the animals and attempted to warn them by sounding the horn repeatedly. However, the buffaloes did not move away from the path of the oncoming train in time.
The impact of the collision was severe enough to cause one of the animals to be thrown against an overhead electrification pole. This caused the pole to bend significantly, which in turn led to the overhead power wires falling directly onto the tracks. Because these wires provide the electricity needed for the trains to run, the entire power supply for that section of the track had to be shut down immediately for safety reasons. All four buffaloes involved in the accident died at the scene.
Once the incident was reported, emergency teams and senior officials from the Konkan Railway quickly rushed to the site to begin repair work. The primary goal was to clear the tracks and restore the power system so that train movements could resume. Workers had to carefully remove the dead animals and then focus on the difficult task of straightening the bent pole and reinstalling the fallen wires. Sunil Narkar, the Chief Public Relations Officer for Konkan Railway, stated that power was eventually restored after rigorous safety checks were completed.
The timing of the accident was particularly difficult for many travelers. Numerous passengers were on their way to the Konkan region to attend the Bharadi Devi Yatra, a popular local festival. The three-hour delay caused a great deal of stress and inconvenience for these devotees and other regular commuters. The route was finally declared safe for operations at around three in the afternoon, but the backlog of trains meant that many services remained behind schedule for the rest of the day.
Several prominent trains faced long delays because of the blockage. The Madgaon–CSMT Mandovi Express was held up for about three and a half hours, while other services like the Rajdhani Express, the Tejas Express, and the Janshatabdi were also affected. Even the Vande Bharat Express itself had to wait until the repairs were finished. Passengers expressed their frustration on social media, complaining that the railway authorities did not provide enough information during the wait. Many people felt that if they had received updates sooner, they could have made other travel plans.
Representatives from local passenger groups noted that the lack of communication made a bad situation worse for families and elderly travelers stuck at various stations. Despite the criticism regarding communication, the technical teams worked hard to fix the electrical damage and ensure that no further accidents occurred. This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by high-speed trains in areas where livestock can easily wander onto the tracks, posing risks to both animals and railway passengers.
The CSMT–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express struck a herd of buffaloes on the Konkan Railway between Sindhudurg and Kudal, causing overhead wire damage and nearly three hours of disruption. The collision led to the death of four animals and suspension of power supply after an electrification pole bent. Multiple major trains, including Mandovi Express and Rajdhani Express, were delayed, affecting thousands of passengers.
