A stone-pelting incident has occurred near Surat on the Vande Bharat Express (Train Number 22961) travelling from Mumbai to Ahmedabad. After departing from Surat Railway Station, anti-social elements threw stones at the train while it was passing near Utran station. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel was also travelling on the train at the time of the incident. However, as she was in an executive coach, she remained completely safe, and no casualties occurred.
The incident occurred between 6.30 pm and 6.45 pm on 22961 Vande Bharat Express between Utran and Kosad.
Meanwhile, the Governor’s office of UP posted on X: “Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel, while travelling today from Vapi to Ahmedabad aboard the Vande Bharat Express, met with film and television actor Mr Anang Desai and other co-passengers to engage in dialogue on the film industry and other topics. Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Mr Praful Patel, was also present.”
Glass cracked in standard coaches C-6 and C-10
As the Vande Bharat train was passing near Utran, stones were suddenly thrown from outside. The glass of standard chair car coaches C-6 and C-10 cracked, causing panic among the passengers. Amid reports of a VVIP passenger on board, news of the stone-pelting triggered a rush among the railway administration and security agencies.
RPF detains intoxicated youth
Officers from the Ankleshwar Railway Protection Force (RPF) immediately reached the spot and initiated an investigation. The RPF team apprehended a suspicious youth, aged around 30, from near the track. Initial investigation revealed that the detained youth was in an intoxicated state; however, the official process of identification and interrogation is underway.
The accused, who was arrested by the Railway Police Force.
In-depth probe launched into the intent behind the attack
Security agencies are currently interrogating the detained suspect in detail to ascertain whether the stone-pelting was carried out merely in a state of drunkenness or if there was any other conspiracy or intent behind it. Following this incident, the railway administration has stepped up patrolling around the Surat-Ahmedabad railway track and strengthened security measures.
Interrogation of the suspicious youth
Western Railway PRO Anubhav Saxena stated that after the train departed from Surat, information was received regarding stone-pelting on the Vande Bharat train near Utran Railway Station. Accordingly, the RPF was informed immediately. The inspector from Ankleshwar RPF promptly reached the scene. A suspicious youth has been apprehended from there, and further interrogation is ongoing.
