Palakkad: A suspected attempt to derail a train was foiled in Kerala's Palakkad district on Tuesday, October 20, after Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel on patrol found heavy objects placed across the tracks between Ottapalam and Shoranur, HelloRail reported on Wednesday. Manorama News, reporting in Malayalam, carried the same account of the objects found on the Shoranur-Ottapalam track and described it as a suspected train sabotage attempt.

The objects were found at three separate locations along the line. They included heavy concrete slabs, a piece of railway track and a sack filled with hardened cement, according to the reports.

HelloRail reported that a man from Bihar was taken into custody for questioning after he was spotted moving suspiciously near the scene. Officials have not released details of any alleged motive or of the man's alleged involvement, and the investigation is under way. The detention and any role in placing the objects remain allegations at this stage.

Railway engineering officials inspected the track after the objects were removed, and the line was declared safe for train operations by 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. No trains were halted or delayed as a result of the incident, HelloRail reported.

Sources: HelloRail (published October 21, 2026); Manorama News (Malayalam).