Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 3: Vande Bharat Express window panes were broken on Monday when some anti-social people threw rocks at the recently-launched train close to Malda’s Kumarganj station in West Bengal. The train was headed for Howrah.
Four days have passed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi signalled the departure of the 7th Vande Bharat Express from Howrah for New Jalpaiguri Junction.
West Bengal | Stones pelted at Vande Bharat Express connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri, 4 days after its launch. The incident took place near Malda station. pic.twitter.com/Nm3XOmffpR
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2023
On December 30, 2022, from Howrah, the express train connecting South Bengal to North Bengal was solemnly inaugurated in the presence of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Commenting on the incident, the Eastern Railways said, “On 02.01.23 at about 17.50 hrs, information received from on duty T.E party of T.N.22302 Vande Bharat Exp. was pelted with stones in coach no. C13 after crossing Kumarganj station under IPF Samsi. As a result, the door glass got cracked. The train escort contained 01 ASI along with 04 staff with Arms and Ammn.of RPF POST D-Shed MLDT.”
When the event happened, it was in the middle of its first commercial run. The incident caused alarm among the onboard passengers. Who flung the stones in the dark, and why, is still a mystery.
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The event will be thoroughly investigated, according to railway authorities.
Asif Khan, a member of the railway crew aboard the Vande Bharat Express, told that stones were thrown at the train from the outside when it was moving through Kumarganj.