PRAYAGRAJ, July 23 -- The Varanasi-Mumbai Banaras Superfast Express made an unscheduled emergency halt after the loco pilot spotted an iron pipe lying on the railway track near Iradatganj in Prayagraj district on Tuesday night, railway officials said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at around 8:43 pm between Iradatganj and Link Junction at kilometre number 1344/46. Noticing the hollow iron pipe on the track, the loco pilot applied the emergency brakes and stopped the train. Railway staff removed the obstruction, and the train resumed its journey after a halt of about six minutes.

During an inquiry on Wednesday morning, RPF officials learnt that a youth, believed to be mentally unstable, had been seen roaming near the railway track on...