Passengers onboard Mumbai-bound Saurahtra Express had a providential escape when the train managed to pass over a 20-foot long iron plank spread across the track in an attempt to derail it near Porbandar on Sunday night, railway officials said.

The train passed the plank without problem after hitting it between Ranavaav and Vansjaliya stations, about 20 kms from Porbandar at about 2030 hours, Divisional Railway Manager (Bhavnagar division) Manoj Kumar told PTI.

"The train was running at about 50-60 kms per hour and anything could have happened... a major tragedy has definitely been averted fortunately," Kumar said.

"The miscreants were watching the events. After their first attempt failed, they tried doing it for the second time within couple of hours, as another passenger train was about to pass," Kumar added.

The Saurashtra Express driver informed railway officials who pressed a patrol team of the Railway Police Force and its trackmen into action.

The patrolling team found the iron plank and cleared it off the tracks, he said.