The Vande Bharat Express, traversing between Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru, encountered an incident where it was struck by a thrown stone near Aluva, Kerala. The incident occurred around 7:10-7:15 p.m. on Saturday, between the Aluva and Angamaly railway stations. While no passengers sustained injuries, the stone caused minor abrasions to the train's exterior.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has launched an investigation into the matter. This marks the second reported instance of stone pelting on trains within the Ernakulam district in less than three weeks. A similar event last month resulted in an arrest in Kannur.
Investigation Details
Authorities are actively examining CCTV footage from the train to identify the perpetrator. In addition, statements are being collected from residents living in the vicinity of the railway tracks where the stone was reportedly hurled. The Railway Police are conducting a parallel inquiry into the incident.
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Context and Precedent
This occurrence adds to a pattern of similar acts of vandalism against trains. The Vande Bharat Express, often presented as a symbol of modernized rail infrastructure, has been the target of such incidents previously. The repeated nature of these events raises questions regarding passenger safety and the effectiveness of current security measures along the rail routes.
Background
The Vande Bharat Express is a semi-high-speed, intercity electric-multiple unit train manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Perambur, Chennai. It is designed to offer a premium travel experience and connect major cities across India. The train operates on numerous routes, including the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru corridor where the recent incident took place.