Train 18 targeted again: Here's what RPF is doing to avert stone-pelting at Vande Bharat Express
Various incidents of stone pelting on India's newly launched Vande Bharat Express has been reported. The Railway Protection Force has found a unique way to tackle the situation and ensure the safety of passengers.
RPF has donned the hat of Santa Claus and is distributing toys, sweets, colour pencils and other such things to young children living near tracks in Delhi. The step has been taken to ensure the safety of passengers in India's ambitious train Vande Bharat Express.
An investigation into several incidents of stone pelting in Delhi established that most of the stone-pelters were young children, forcing the RPF to change its methods of persuasion.
The Vande Bharat Express, also known as Train 18, has become a victim of repeated stone-pelting. The latest incident took place on Wednesday when a stone was hurled at the Vande Bharat Express, breaking one of its window panes. The train was crossing Tundla junction when the incident happened, Northern Railway Spokesperson Deepak Kumar said.
It is the third such incident in two months involving India's first high-speed train.
Earlier, during a trial run between Delhi and Agra in December last year, stones were hurled at the train as well. A similar incident occurred earlier that month too.
However, with the latest incident, it seems like RPF will have to stock up on the toys to placate kids in every city of the train's route.
(With inputs from PTI)
