Stone pelting on Vande Bharat Train: Chandrashekhar Azad survives a close call, fuels debate on Rail Safety!
UTTAR PRADESH: A stone-throwing incident on Vande Bharat Express in Uttar Pradesh leaves a window shattered and raises anew questions regarding rail safety at this place. Onboard was member of parliament, and also the president of Azad Samaj Party ASP Chandrashekhar Azad who narrowly escaped damage. The incident occurred as the Delhi to Kanpur train has crossed Kamalpur station in Bulandshahr district.
MP Chandrashekhar Azad Takes to Social Media to Share Experience
The incident took place when it was still early morning, as a person on the platform outside the train started pelted stones at the windows. The stone broke the glass at two seats ahead of him said Azad, but didn't injure him in any way. Taking social media Azad shared his photo along with the smashed window, and expressed his shock at the attack. This could have been far worse, said Azad, who believes that the stone-throwers may have targeted him although the motive is still not clear.
आज सुबह मैं वंदे भारत ट्रेन से दिल्ली से कानपुर की यात्रा कर रहा था। सुबह लगभग 7:12 बजे ट्रेन ने जैसे ही बुलंदशहर जिले के कमालपुर स्टेशन को पार किया, तभी बाहर से किसी असामाजिक तत्व ने पत्थर फेंके, जिससे मेरे से दो सीट आगे बैठे यात्री के पास का शीशा चकनाचूर हो गया। इस घटना से मैं… pic.twitter.com/jdkrJwqEKx
— Chandra Shekhar Aazad (@BhimArmyChief) November 3, 2024
Viral Tweet Sparks Concerns Over Passenger Safety
Azad tweeted immediately after the attack, mentioning the matter of public safety and damaging government property. His tweet went viral and brought up the issue of passenger safety measures in the public debate. "The stone-throwing near Bulandshahr damaged public property and raises serious concerns over railway security," he urged immediate action, he wrote on his microblog.
He remembered the shocking incident clearly: "At about 7:12 a.m., immediately after crossing Kamalpur Station, someone from outside threw a stone that smashed the window glass close to a passenger sitting in the two rows ahead of me. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the event was scary." Ashfaq Azad suggested that measures should be taken to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Call for Action: Better Security Measures Needed on Indian Railways
Azad appealed to the Minister of Railways, RPF, and local authorities to enforce strict security protocols along train routes, especially where stone-throwing incidents have been reported earlier. He asked the ministry to consider increasing surveillance and patrolling near vulnerable sections of the rail network. Azad also sought campaigns that publicize discouragement of such acts, focusing on the safety of the railway infrastructure as well as the passengers.
Vande Bharat Express and Indian Railways Safety Issues
This stone-throwing attack has again brought the safety of one of India's prized high-speed trains, Vande Bharat Express, and Indian Railways into the limelight. While these high-tariff trains have all the trappings of being fast, comfortable, and new-age, an incident such as this sends the public back into a state of disbelief and distrust for such trains. In the past, such attacks have been surfacing before, and comprehensive steps need to be taken to protect trains from such acts of vandalism.
Indian Railways has taken several safety measures from CCTV surveillance to RPF deployments to prevent such attacks. In fact, even today, attacks in a secluded or rural section along the track are still challenging to prevent fully. Azad's appeal creates pressure on the railway authority to take stronger preventive action to ensure the safety of passengers and rail staff.
This incident is also an eye-opener about the challenges Indian Railways is facing in securing trains and safeguarding passengers from any possible threats. Influential figures, like MP Chandrashekhar Azad requesting action, would serve as enough to let the government reinforce security along routes of high-speed and long-distance train services, such as the Vande Bharat Express. Impoving patrolling, community awareness, and advanced monitoring systems will prevent such incidents in the future, as the train journey throughout the country will be safe and sound.
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