A routine Saturday morning journey turned into a nightmare for passengers at the Chandigarh Railway Station, with a senior citizen describing the chaotic scenes as a "dance of death." The incident, involving the prestigious Kalka–New Delhi Shatabdi Express (Train No. 12006), has led to a criminal case and a high-level departmental inquiry after several commuters were injured while attempting to board the moving train.
A Premature Departure Triggers Panic
The sequence of events, as detailed in a complaint by 59-year-old Chandigarh resident Surinder Singh Bhardwaj, began around 6:49 am on Saturday. The Shatabdi Express arrived at Platform No. 1 but, contrary to standard procedure, began moving again within mere seconds. Bhardwaj alleged the train departed before its scheduled time and without any proper clearance or announcement, catching dozens of passengers mid-boarding.
"It was a dance of death. I cannot forget this ever," Bhardwaj told reporters, estimating that between 20 to 40 passengers, including elderly individuals and women, sustained injuries in the ensuing chaos. He claimed the train started abruptly, causing panic, and was then halted suddenly moments later, leading to people losing their balance, falling, and getting hurt.
Passenger's Harrowing Account: A Dash to Board, a Fall on Platform
Bhardwaj, who was traveling with his wife and daughter, provided a chilling firsthand account. He stated that their coach, C-6, was parked nearly 40–50 metres away from its designated stopping point, forcing his family to run to reach it. "We had to run to reach our coach. Within no time — well before the scheduled halt of around eight minutes — the train started moving," he recounted.
In the frantic moments that followed, Bhardwaj managed to push his wife and daughter into the moving coach. However, when he tried to board himself, he lost his footing and fell onto the platform. He alleged that many other passengers suffered similar fates, tumbling while trying to get on the train, and that his luggage was left behind in the scramble. In his formal complaint, he urgently requested authorities to preserve the CCTV footage from Platform No. 1 near Coach C-6 as crucial evidence.
FIR Registered, Railways Constitutes Probe Committee
Acting swiftly on the complaint, the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Chandigarh has registered a First Information Report (FIR). The case has been filed against the loco pilot and other on-duty railway operating staff under several serious sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Railways Act.
Urmila, the Station House Officer (SHO) of GRP Chandigarh, confirmed the registration of the FIR under applicable BNS sections, stating, "The matter is under probe. After a detailed inquiry, further action will be taken." The charges invoked are severe, including:
- Attempt to murder (Section 109 BNS)
- Endangering life through rash or negligent acts (Section 125 BNS)
- Public servant disobeying law with intent to cause injury (Sections 198 & 199 BNS)
- Rash driving (Section 281 BNS)
- Common intention (Section 3(5) BNS)
- Relevant sections of the Railways Act (Section 154)
Concurrently, the Railways has initiated its own investigation. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) of Ambala Division, Naveen Jha, announced that a departmental inquiry has been ordered. A three-member committee comprising officers from the Mechanical, Operations, and Railway Protection Force (RPF) departments has been formed and is expected to submit its report within two days.
While the official machinery swings into action, a railway official offered a preliminary defense, suggesting that the train pilot must have sounded the horn before departure. The official maintained that claims of the train leaving unnoticed or before time cannot be accepted outright without investigation, adding, "An inquiry is underway to establish the facts."
Victim Demands Strict Action and Compensation
Unconvinced by procedural assurances, Surinder Singh Bhardwaj has demanded concrete and strict action. His demands include the immediate suspension and prosecution of the train driver (loco pilot), provision of medical assistance, and adequate compensation for all injured passengers. He emphasized that such incidents gravely endanger lives and fundamentally undermine the trust in passenger safety systems of Indian Railways.
The incident has cast a stark spotlight on operational protocols and safety measures at one of North India's key railway stations, raising urgent questions about accountability and preventive measures to ensure such a "dance of death" is never repeated.
