By: Shubham Ghosh
Vande Bharat Express, the semi-speed train in India which prime minister Narendra Modi has been inaugurating at various parts of the country on the occasion of 75 years of Independence, has faced unfortunate incidents.
While the one running between Gujarat, Modi’s home state, and Maharashtra, have met accidents by hitting cattle on tracks, some others including those operating in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and eastern state of West Bengal have been targeted with stones.
Andhra Pradesh | Stones pelted on Vande Bharat train in Visakhapatnam which will be flagged off by PM Modi on Jan 19. Incident occurred during maintenance.
Glass pane of a coach of Vande Bharat express was damaged near Kancharapalem, Visakhapatnam. Further probe underway: DRM pic.twitter.com/JQLrHbwyJ4
— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2023
And now, a brand new Vande Bharat, which is waiting to be inaugurated by Modi in the south-eastern state of Andhra Pradesh, has been targeted even before it started its maiden journey.
It has been reported that unidentified people threw stones at a coach of the Vande Bharat Express which is set to be flagged off between Secunderabad and the coastal tourist city of Visakhapatnam on Sunday (15).
The stone-throwing incident happened near Kancharapalem in Visakhapatnam where the train was stationed at the railway yard. The glass-plane of the train was damaged.
The latest train is the eighth of the Vande Bharat trains to be inaugurated and the second in south India, the first being the one connecting Chennai and Mysuru.
The police of Visakhapatnam, along with the Railway Police Force, were investigating the matter.
A local police officer said they were hunting for those who were behind the crime.
Security has been stepped up in the area following the incident, he added.