Stone pelting at Vande Bharat train in Odisha's Bhubaneshwar

Bhubaneshwar: Stone-pelting between Meramandali and Budhapank on the Dhenkanal-Angul railway section in Odisha caused damage to the windowpane of an executive class coach of the Rourkela-Bhubaneswar Vande Bharat Express (20835) train, officials said on Sunday. 

Officials claim that the RPF Escorting Staff member who was on duty reported the incident. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) were notified by the security division of the East Coast Railway Zone (ECoR) upon receiving the information. The assistant security commissioner for the RPF from Cuttack rushed to the spot. 

The situation was also reported to the local police. The stone-pelters will face harsh punishment. In a statement, the railways said that the ECoR's security wing and local police are working together to identify the offenders. 

The Vande Bharat Express train has been targeted in the nation previously on many occasions. 

There have been similar incidents across the nation. But thus far, none of the incidents have resulted in any injuries to passengers. 

Indian Railways, in particular the East Coast Railway (ECoR), have been actively educating the public—especially those living close to rail lines—about the dangers of throwing stones at trains that could endanger passengers. 

Notwithstanding the efforts of Indian Railways and law enforcement agencies to put an end to it, incidents of stone-pelting on trains have persisted. 

(With ANI inputs)