In a disturbing incident, stones were thrown at the new Vande Bharat Express train in Bihar’s Gaya on Tuesday. The train, which is scheduled to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 15, was undergoing a trial run at the time of the attack.
Reports confirm that the window glass of seat number 4 in the second coach, located just behind the engine, was shattered. Fortunately, no passengers were onboard during the trial run, so no injuries were reported.
This new Vande Bharat Express was set to operate on the Tata Nagar Jamshedpur to Patna route, with high hopes of improving connectivity in the region. However, the stone-pelting incident has raised concerns regarding security on this new premium service.
Recurring Incidents in Bihar
This is not the first time that Vande Bharat Express trains have been targeted in Bihar. Earlier this year, on January 21, unidentified miscreants threw stones at the New Jalpaiguri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express in the Katihar district. The attack took place between the Dalkola and Telta railway stations in the Katihar Rail Division, part of the Northeast Frontier Railway.
Authorities are investigating both incidents, and efforts are being made to enhance security measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. The Indian Railways is taking the matter seriously, and police are working to identify the individuals responsible for the latest act of vandalism.