"There were intelligence reports of possible Maoist attack on rail properties in Tirhut and Saran region and accordingly Railway Ministry had alerted the East Central Railway, GRP and district administrations," the official said.
Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Chapra and Hazipur are among the areas which comprise Tirhut and Saran regions in Bihar.
The intelligence advisory was issued by railways to the concerned authorities on June 20 to take adequate preventive measures to in the wake of Maosit bandh call to check possible attack on railway proprties in the region.
"Prima facie, it appears to be a case of sabotage. There was a blast on the track, which could have caused the derailment," Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar told PTI.
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"Another goods train, 60 kms away from the station, also got derailed due to a blast. 18 wagons got derailed in the accident," Kumar said.
However, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said it was too early to blame the Maoists for the derailment.
While Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and Minister of State for Railway Manoj Sinha have rushed to the site along with Railway Board Member (Traffic) D P Pandey and Member (Mechanical) Alok Johri, RPF DG Krishna Chaudhury have also gone to the accident spot for a first hand information.