In a shocking incident on Sunday morning, stones were hurled at the high-speed Vande Bharat Express, damaging one of its windows. Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) MP, Chandra Shekhar Azad, who was on board, shared his account of the event that occurred as the train travelled from Delhi to Kanpur.
Stone-Pelting On Vande Bharat
आज सुबह मैं वंदे भारत ट्रेन से दिल्ली से कानपुर की यात्रा कर रहा था। सुबह लगभग 7:12 बजे ट्रेन ने जैसे ही बुलंदशहर जिले के कमालपुर स्टेशन को पार किया, तभी बाहर से किसी असामाजिक तत्व ने पत्थर फेंके, जिससे मेरे से दो सीट आगे बैठे यात्री के पास का शीशा चकनाचूर हो गया। इस घटना से मैं… pic.twitter.com/jdkrJwqEKx
— Chandra Shekhar Aazad (@BhimArmyChief) November 3, 2024
Azad detailed the disturbing incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter). At approximately 7:12 a.m., as the Vande Bharat Express passed the Kamalpur station in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district, a stone was thrown, shattering the window near a passenger seated just two rows ahead of the Nagina MP. “I was shocked and stunned by this incident,” Azad wrote. “This not only caused damage to government property but also raised questions about the safety of passengers. Such incidents are reprehensible and cannot be accepted at any cost.”
The Vande Bharat Express, a symbol of India’s modern railway ambitions, has seen a concerning rise in stone-pelting incidents, particularly troubling given the train’s high speeds and popularity among passengers. According to a recent report, there were 1,503 recorded incidents of stone pelting on trains in 2022 alone, Aazad shared. It caused financial losses amounting to crores for the Railways. This issue has not only strained the Railways’ resources but has also raised questions about passenger safety and public awareness regarding the severe risks involved.
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The Incident Raises Alarms On Passenger Safety
Azad’s remarks stressed the need for immediate action and increased public awareness. “Railways are a valuable asset of the country, and their protection is the responsibility of all citizens,” he asserted. He further urged the Union Railway Minister, Railway Police, and other relevant authorities to enforce strict measures to curb such acts. In his appeal, Azad highlighted the role of family and education in raising awareness, emphasising that parents and teachers should actively guide young people about the repercussions of these actions. “This country is ours, and the protection of its property is not only the government’s but also the moral responsibility and constitutional fundamental duty of all of us,” he added.
The incident has ignited discussions about the long-standing issue of stone-pelting, especially on newer trains like the Vande Bharat Express.
The Railways has consistently worked to enhance safety measures across its routes, but incidents like these highlight the need for a more comprehensive approach.
Cover Image Courtesy: Chandra Shekhar Aazad/X and Wikimedia Commons
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