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. After 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 Tuesday evening. GRP and RPF teams are searching for the suspect. North Central Railway chief public relations officer Dr Shivam Sharma said an iron pipe was found on the railway track and the matter was being investigated seriously. He said the suspected youth was being traced and that only the investigation would establish whether the pipe had been placed deliberately and, if so, with what motive. NCR GM orders round-the-clock track, bridge monitoring The North Central Railway (NCR) has stepped up its preparedness, directing field officials to intensify inspections of railway tracks, bridges and emergency relief infrastructure to ensure safe train operations. Reviewing monsoon preparedness at the NCR headquarters, general manager Naresh Pal Singh on Wednesday instructed officials to maintain proactive readiness and strictly follow all safety protocols. He directed officials to carry out comprehensive inspections of tracks to assess the operational readiness of monsoon wagons and relief equipment. Stressing the need for constant vigilance, he ordered close monitoring of flood-prone locations and bridges during heavy rainfall....