Hundreds of passengers aboard the Varanasi–Ranchi Vande Bharat Express (20888) endured significant hardship after the train suffered a major technical failure between Shiv Sagar and Kumahu stations on the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU)–Sasaram section under East Central Railway late Friday evening.
Technical Failure Details
Railway sources confirmed that a fault in the brake system and the main locomotive brought the train to a standstill. Despite the efforts of onboard engineers, the issue could not be resolved on-site, leaving the train stranded for nearly four-and-a-half hours.
Passenger Ordeal
Passengers reported severe inconvenience, particularly for senior citizens, women, and children. With the train stationary for hours, onboard facilities became strained. Washrooms turned unhygienic, while the availability of food and drinking water became a major concern, according to passengers.
Sasaram GRP SHO Suman stated that a replacement locomotive arrived around 10 PM. It was attached to the train, which then resumed its journey to Ranchi.
Criticism and Concerns
Ranchi-bound passengers criticized the delay, asserting that a premium service like Vande Bharat should guarantee reliability and a swift contingency response. The DDU DRM could not be reached for comment. The Varanasi PRO declined to comment, stating that the train's maintenance falls under Northern Railway, New Delhi.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the maintenance and reliability of premium trains, even as the railways plans a future bullet train on the Varanasi–Patna–Howrah route. Railway authorities are likely to order a detailed inquiry into the failure and the prolonged disruption, a DDU official said.
