151 people arrested for pelting Vande Bharat trains with stones | Chennai News

CHENNAI: A total of 151 people have been arrested for pelting Vande Bharat trains with stones in the last five years. The first Vande Bharat train was launched in February 2019. Railways suffered a loss of Rs 55.60 lakh due to damage to Vande Bharat trains in the last five years.

In response to a written question by Guwahati MP Queen Oja in the Lok Sabha, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, ” During the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 (till June), Indian Railways suffered a loss of Rs 55.6 lakh due to damage caused to Vande Bharat trains in incidents of stone pelting.”
“No incident leading to loss of life of passengers or theft/ damage to passenger belongings has been reported,” he added.

There are 50 Vande Bharat services (to and from services) being operated in 23 states/Union territories.
He said a series of steps were being taken to prevent such incidents. These include sensitising train escorting personnel to remain vigilant in vulnerable areas, regular drives against anti-social elements, surveillance using CCTV cameras on trains and stations and a state-level security committee of railways constituted for all states under chairmanship of DGPs.