Stone chunks hit Vande Bharat Express; driver's screen, windows damaged
What's the story
The main driver's screen and some side windows of the Vande Bharat Express were damaged when the train was hit by stones during its Varanasi-New Delhi journey yesterday.
Northern Railways Chief Public Relation Officer said a shower of ballast came flying towards the train near Achalda, Uttar Pradesh when the Dibrugarh Rajdhani, crossing on the adjoining line, ran over a cattle.
Details here.
Damaged parts
Windows of six coaches cracked, technical staff examined damages
"The stone chunks hit the driver's windscreen and one each side outer glasses of windows of coach numbers C4, C6, C7, C8, C13 and two glass panes of C12, causing damage," the CPRO said.
The technical staff aboard the train assessed the damages and after careful examination, the train was found fit to run, and so it started its "journey at its normal speed."
Journey
Officials attended to damaged windows, put on safety-sheets for passengers
"The train carried on its onward journey to its destination station at its normal speed. It has since then reached New Delhi Railway Station at 11.05 pm," the statement said.
The Northern Railways CPRO also said officials attended to the damaged windows and put on safety sheets to ensure passengers are not inconvenienced in any way during its journey today.
Information
PM Modi had flagged off the train on February 15
Vande Bharat Express left for Varanasi this morning on its scheduled time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on February 15 flagged off the semi-high speed train from New Delhi Railway Station. However, its commercial operations began two days later on February 17.