In another ominous move that puts public safety at risk for viral popularity, a video has been released showing a group of young men blocking a railway track with wooden logs. They supposedly aimed to demonstrate that they could bring the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express to a complete stop.
The video, which has since gone viral on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, captures the men laughing and boasting in Hindi, “Vande Bharat ko aaj rukwa kar rahengay” (We will definitely make the Vande Bharat stop today).
Stopping Vandey Bharat and jeopardising lives of passengers by placing wooden logs for making reels, should be treated as an act of terrorism.
— Oxomiya Jiyori 🇮🇳 (@SouleFacts) January 23, 2026
Request @RailMinIndia and @RPF_INDIA to arrest them all and coordinate with state government to slap NSA on them. pic.twitter.com/KPxKCPqxRm
The accident: Nearly a disaster
The incident occurred on a fast rail corridor where the Vande Bharat typically travels at speeds between 110 km/h and 130 km/h. As it approached the curve where the logs were placed, the alert locomotive pilot spotted the obstruction from a distance and had to apply emergency brakes.
They successfully stopped the train without derailing, but the sudden deceleration was terrifying for the passengers inside. Railway officials said that the stunt could have caused a disastrous derailment if the logs had become trapped under the cattle guard or the wheels.
Railway Authorities Act
The RPF and local police were notified after the locomotive pilot reported the incident at the next station. Based on the video the men posted on social media, authorities have reportedly traced the perpetrators. According to the Railways Act, 1989, placing obstructions on railway tracks is a non-bailable offense. "This isn't 'fun'; it is an act of sabotage that puts hundreds of people's lives at risk," said one senior Railway official. Section 150 of the Act means that these types of acts will inevitably lead to life imprisonment or even the death penalty should a fatality occur.
Increasing Trend of Railway Vandalism
This is not an isolated case. In recent months, the Vande Bharat Express has been a frequent target of: Stone Pelting: Damaging the reinforced glass windows of the premium trains. Track obstructions: Using stones, bicycles, or iron rods to record the train's impact. Selfie Hazards: People standing dangerously near tracks for pictures.
Internet users have called for the harshest possible punishment on "content creators." Some claim that the obsession with “reels” and “likes” has become so intense that human life or national property has lost its value for many people. The Ministry of Railways has again appealed to the public to report any unusual activity around railway tracks and has increased drone surveillance in areas at risk of such incidents.
