The Railway Protection Force (RPF) attached to the Trichy railway division has taken four minors into custody following a serious incident of stone-pelting targeting the prestigious Vande Bharat Express. The act of vandalism resulted in significant damage to the windows of multiple coaches.
Incident Details: Attack on Moving Train
The event unfolded on Sunday evening as the Vande Bharat Express train number 20665, operating on the Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli route, was crossing the Manimutharu river bridge. The location was near Manalur, situated between Vriddhachalam and Talanallur railway stations. According to preliminary investigations by the RPF, a group of young boys who were walking alongside the railway track deliberately hurled stones at the speeding train.
Extent of Damage to the Train
The projectile attack caused damage to the outer layer of the windows on at least six coaches. The affected coaches have been identified as C5, C6, C7, E2, C17, and C18. It is noteworthy that the Vande Bharat Express coaches are fitted with advanced, double-sealed toughened glass for passenger safety. Each pane consists of two 6mm layers with a 14mm gap filled with a mixture of argon and krypton gas. Officials confirmed that, fortunately, the stones only managed to crack the outer layer of the glass, preventing a potential breach of the cabin.
Legal Action and Consequences
Acting swiftly on the information, the RPF team successfully identified and detained the four individuals involved on Monday. The boys, whose ages range from 16 to 18 years, have been sent to a juvenile home as per legal protocol. The railways have reiterated that such acts are serious offences. Stone-pelting at trains or obstructing their movement is punishable by imprisonment that can extend up to five years. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by railway authorities in protecting vital infrastructure and ensuring passenger safety from such wanton acts of vandalism.
