Jaipur: A potential catastrophe involving the Maharajas’ Express, one of the world's most luxurious tourist trains, was averted late Tuesday near Jaipur after an alert locomotive pilot spotted an intentional obstruction on the tracks.

The train, which was transporting hundreds of passengers, including numerous foreign tourists, was travelling from Jaipur to Sawai Madhopur when the operator noticed iron angles laid across the rails.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. near a railway crossing in the Shivdaspura area, close to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital. The pilot utilised emergency braking systems to bring the train to a swift halt, narrowly avoiding a collision with the hardware.

Railway officials reported finding five to six iron angles, each measuring about five feet in length, positioned in a manner clearly intended to cause a derailment.

The luxury liner remained stationary for 35 minutes while the heavy obstructions were cleared. The site was immediately swarmed by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and local law enforcement. A specialised dog squad was deployed to sweep the tracks for further threats or evidence.

While no injuries were reported and the track was eventually cleared for travel, the RPF has filed a criminal case against unidentified suspects. Authorities have since ordered a surge in security patrols along vulnerable railway corridors in the region.

"Thanks to the presence of mind and quick action of the loco pilot, the lives of hundreds of foreign tourists and other passengers... were saved," a railway official stated, noting that the intervention prevented a "major tragedy."

The attempted sabotage follows a string of similar incidents in Rajasthan. Last September, a pole was discovered on the tracks of the Aravali Express in Sirohi district, and separate derailment plots were recently uncovered in Ajmer.

Regional rail travel has also been plagued by stone-pelting incidents; recent targets include the Vande Bharat Express in Udaipur and Alwar, and the Intercity Khajuraho Express, which suffered damage to an AC coach window. Officials noted that a freight train was also the target of a derailment attempt in the same Alwar location.

With inputs from IANS