Pratapgarh: Rail Traffic Disrupted After Man Climbs Onto Roof of Moving Kashi Vishwanath Express

Rail services in Pratapgarh were briefly disrupted on Saturday, December 6, after a 27-year-old man climbed onto the roof of the moving Kashi Vishwanath Express, prompting railway authorities to shut down overhead power lines and launch an urgent rescue operation. The man, identified as Mohammad Anas, was later safely brought down, officials confirmed.

Man Seen Running Across Coaches Beneath High-Voltage Wires

The incident began at approximately 4:20 pm when the New Delhi–Manduadih-bound train halted at Maa Belha Devi Dham railway station. According to eyewitness accounts and initial reports, Anas climbed onto the roof of a coach without speaking to anyone. As the train resumed its journey, he remained on the roof and later ran across multiple coaches while the train travelled under high-voltage overhead electric lines.

Passengers captured the alarming scene on their phones, expressing fear that he could come into contact with the live wires above. Approximately 12 minutes after the incident began, railway officials were alerted, following which the control room immediately cut off the power supply and halted the train near Naya Mal Godown Road. All nearby railway crossings were closed during the operation, resulting in temporary traffic congestion.

प्रतापगढ़ के मऊहार फाटक पर बड़ा हादसा होते–होते बच गया। ट्रेन की रफ्तार थोड़ी कम होते ही एक युवक अचानक चलती ट्रेन के ऊपर चढ़ गया। यह देखकर मौके पर मौजूद लोगों में अफरा–तफरी मच गई।@RailwaySeva @pratapgarhpol @Uppolice pic.twitter.com/ePIRhAyhln

— Shubham Pathak (@Shubham80638646) December 6, 2025

GRP Constable Climbs Onto Roof to Bring Man Down

A team from the Government Railway Police (GRP) arrived soon after the train came to a stop. Officers attempted to convince Anas to climb down safely, but he continued running from coach to coach. A GRP constable then climbed onto the roof of the train and pursued him across several compartments. After a brief chase, the constable managed to detain him and bring him down safely around 5:10 pm.

Anas was taken into custody and transported to the local police station.

Preliminary Inquiry Suggests Mental Illness

Authorities said initial inquiries indicate that the young man appears to be mentally unwell. He had reportedly been seen near the station earlier in the day. Police are currently attempting to contact his family in Sant Kabir Nagar.

The incident led to the temporary suspension of several services on the Prayagraj–Lucknow line, affecting both long-distance and local trains. In a post shared on X, Pratapgarh police praised the swift response of the GRP and Railway Protection Force (RPF) teams for ensuring the man’s safe rescue.

Rail operations were restored shortly after the incident, and normal services have since resumed.