The Lucknow Vande Bharat Express was delayed by about 35 minutes on Thursday afternoon after it hit a cow on the railway tracks between Bakshi Ka Talab and Mahmoodabad stations near Lucknow, according to railway officials quoted by the Times of India.
The Saharanpur-Gomti Nagar Vande Bharat Express, numbered 26503, struck the animal near Nandana crossing on the Bakshi Ka Talab-Mahmoodabad section at about 1.29pm. The collision damaged the front portion of the train, while the cow died in the impact.
The train’s guard reported the cattle run-over incident to railway authorities immediately after the collision. Railway personnel then reached the site to remove the carcass and clear the track.
Officials said the track was cleared by 2pm, allowing the train to resume its journey towards Gomti Nagar in Lucknow. The service remained detained at the location for approximately 35 minutes, affecting its scheduled movement.
The incident occurred on a railway section connecting stations north and south of Lucknow and highlights the operational disruption that can follow when livestock enters active railway corridors. The supplied report did not provide details of any additional cancellations, injuries to passengers or crew, or further damage to railway infrastructure.
The train continued towards Gomti Nagar after railway personnel completed the track-clearance operation, according to the railway officials cited in the report.
