Ranchi, Aug 16: A major rail accident was narrowly averted in the early hours of Sunday on the Silli-Bokaro railway section in Jharkhand after a coach of the Shravani Mela Special train, travelling towards Madhupur, suddenly derailed, officials said.

A large number of Kanwariyas were travelling on the train when the incident occurred. All passengers aboard the train were reported to be safe, with no casualties reported in the derailment, according to the officials.

The railway officials stated that Train No. 08895, the Madhupur Shravani Mela Special, was proceeding towards Madhupur at around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday when its third coach from the engine suddenly went off the tracks near pole number 354/SA4.

The sudden derailment brought the train to an abrupt halt with a loud noise, briefly triggering panic among the passengers travelling on board.

Soon after receiving information about the incident, railway officials, along with teams of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP), rushed to the spot to assess the situation and begin relief operations.

A technical team was also deployed at the site and immediately started rescue and restoration work. The derailed coach was subsequently brought safely back onto the railway tracks.

However, railway authorities decided not to allow the coach to continue the remaining part of its journey as a precautionary measure.

For safety purposes, the affected coach was stationed at the Muri yard, while the Kanwariyas travelling in it were safely evacuated.

The derailment, however, disrupted rail traffic on the section for some time, leading railway authorities to alter the routes of several trains operating through the affected stretch.

The railway’s technical team simultaneously began repair and restoration work on the damaged portion of the track.

After sustained efforts by railway staff and technical personnel, the repair work on the affected track was completed at approximately 5:15 a.m. on Sunday.

Following the completion of the restoration work, train operations on the Bokaro section resumed, and normal rail movement was gradually restored.

Railway authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident to establish the exact cause of the derailment and determine the circumstances that led to the coach going off the tracks.

Officials are examining the condition of the track and other technical aspects as part of the inquiry.

Ahmedabad, Aug 16: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel departed from Ahmedabad in the early hours of Sunday for a visit to the United States and Canada aimed at attracting global investment and inviting investors and industry leaders to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027.

CM Patel is leading a high-level state delegation that will engage with investors, industry associations, emerging technology leaders and members of the Gujarati community during the overseas outreach.

The visit comes ahead of the summit scheduled for January 2027, with the state stepping up international engagement to showcase its industrial and economic opportunities.

The delegation will hold roundtable conferences and one-to-one meetings in Washington DC, New York and San Francisco in the US, followed by engagements in Toronto, Canada.

The meetings are intended to present Gujarat’s development and investment opportunities and extend invitations to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

Chief Secretary M.K. Das; Additional Chief Secretary of Finance, T. Natarajan; Additional Chief Secretary of Industries and Mines, Mamta Verma; Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sanjeev Kumar; and Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dr Vikrant Pandey; are accompanying CM Patel, along with representatives from the state’s trade and industry sector.

Officials said the delegation would particularly engage with investors and leaders in emerging technology sectors while also reaching out to the Gujarati diaspora.

The overseas meetings form part of Gujarat’s broader preparations for the 2027 summit, with international outreach programmes planned to build participation and investment interest.

The visit also marks the first official trip to the US by a sitting Gujarat Chief Minister since 1995, according to reports.

CM Patel’s tour is scheduled to cover the US and Canada from August 17 to 24.

The Chief Minister’s departure from Ahmedabad Airport was attended by officials including Collector Bhavya Verma, who extended their wishes for the visit.

The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, conceived in 2003, has developed into an international platform for business networking, investment and strategic partnerships. The next edition is scheduled for January 2027.

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged Messi event fraud linked to Reporter TV and its owners, even as the former Finance Minister and CPI-M leader K.N. Balagopal refused to answer questions on alleged GST dues connected with the visit of football superstar Lionel Messi to Kerala in 2025, which failed to take place.

State BJP General Secretary S. Suresh demanded that the V.D. Satheesan government hand over the investigation to the CBI, saying that the controversy had international dimensions involving Argentina, Embassies, apart from alleged financial irregularities.

He alleged that the state government’s name had been misused in the proposed Messi event and called for a comprehensive probe into the financial transactions involved.

He also demanded a criminal case into the alleged GST evasion and said those found responsible should face legal action, including arrest wherever warranted.

Suresh also alleged that serious charges had surfaced against the previous LDF government and sought a probe into allegations of political protection being extended to those involved.

He warned the Satheesan government against entering into any political understanding with former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to suppress or delay the investigation.

The BJP leader also claimed that the alleged intermediary (sponsor) in the Messi event faced around 19 cases, including cheating cases, and demanded that the entire financial and international dimensions of the controversy be examined by Central agencies.

Meanwhile, Balagopal, who served as the Kerala Finance Minister from 2021 to 2026 and now sits in the Opposition front row alongside Vijayan, faced questions on the alleged non-payment of GST linked to the principal sponsor of the Messi event.

Known for his sharp responses on public finance during his ministerial tenure, Balagopal offered little on Friday.

He said he did not have any papers on the matter and suggested that officials might know more.

The response was particularly notable given Balagopal’s repeated criticism of the Centre over Kerala’s finances and devolution of funds while he was the Finance Minister.