Passengers of at least three trains on Konkan Railway section had a miraculous escape as attempts by some unidentified people to derail them failed on Sunday night.

The miscreants had placed metallic strips on both the tracks near Brahmavar. This is first such incident in the history of Konkan Railway division.

On one of the tracks, the piece had broken into pieces after Mumbai express passed on the track. Mangala Express, Nethravathi and a goods train had also travelled on the same track.

Though gangman Sudhakar Mallya saw the pieces during the track inspection, he thought them to be parts of some train.

However, when Railway division Senior Section Engineer M V Gopalakrishnan and assistant safetyman were inspecting the track, they noticed the sabotage.

Police suspect that it could be a handiwork of militatns as naxal-infested Hebri is just 30 km away from here.