Vande Bharat Train: Authorities expressed alarm over ongoing damage to the premium railway service after two Vande Bharat trains in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were stoned on Sunday.
Stone Attacks’ Impact
All of these occurrences resulted in damage to at least four windows, although none involved any injuries. One windowpane replacement or repair might cost up to Rs 22,000. The KSR Bengaluru-Dharwad-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat (20661/20662) was one of the trains that sustained damage twice: once during the forward voyage and once during the return journey.
Chronicle of Stone Attacks
Around 6.15 am, a train headed for Dharwad was the first to be hit as it sped passed the Chikkabanavara railway station in northern Bengaluru. Around 3:30 pm, on the return trip between the Haveri and Harihar stations, the train was attacked once more, according to a Railway Protection Force (PRF) official.
Before the Kuppam station in Andhra Pradesh, at around 4:30 pm, stones were thrown at the Mysuru-Chennai Central Vande Bharat (20608), which travels through Bengaluru. Chikkabanavara and Kuppam, two of these attacks, took place in the Bengaluru railway division. The Mysuru division was the scene of the third attack.
Repeated Stone-Throwing Incidents
At least ten instances of stone-throwing on the Vande Bharat Express have occurred in the Bengaluru division this year, including the two that were recorded on Sunday. There were forty such instances in the previous year. As of right now, fifty-nine persons have been taken into custody, according to another division officer. A top RPF official highlighted the difficulties in catching the offenders and voiced disgust at the ongoing stone-throwing.
Probable Culprits and Investigative Challenges
“In most cases, this is the handiwork of destitute children, alcoholics and druggies though some do it just to fulfil a fetish,” the official told DH, requesting anonymity. The official stated that it was “too early to draw conclusions” while the RPF was looking over CCTV footage from both inside and outside the trains. “The train would be running at over 100 kmph. The investigation is quite painstaking,” the official added.
Legal Consequences and Preventive Measures
According to Section 153 of the Railway Act, throwing stones on trains is illegal and is punished by up to five years in prison. According to an official, RPF officers have been policing sensitive areas and segments within the Bengaluru division to stop stone-throwing onto trains.
