Time to take serious view of stone-throwing at trains

Railway officials said they had examined the video - this is a grab from it - and indeed found mischief by the workers

Central Railway officials filed a case with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) against rail workers who threw sand and construction material at running trains, after a complaint on social media by a Hyderabad Express passenger. Those complaints were backed by a video. The clip showed rail workers building a tunnel near Khandala, throwing mud and dust on a passing train.

Once the entire complaint was verified, a warning letter has been sent to the agency entrusted with the work, to see that workers are disciplined and fall in line. Otherwise action will be escalated.

A serious view must be taken of this incident, rather than brushed off as trivial or just a nuisance. Throwing debris and construction material at trains cannot be acceptable. One can only imagine what would happen if a passenger was standing at a slightly open door and this hit him, even if inadvertently.

For years now, we have had reports of objects being flung at local trains, with the aim of harassing people, just for a sickening lark or for robbery. We have gangs along tracks or on light poles who hit commuters on the wrists with sticks, and snatch bags or mobile phones.

Other totally reprehensible actions are throwing stones at commuters, we have examples where commuters have fallen off trains, lost an eye because of this stone-throwing.

And, these are crimes, whatever the outcome or aim, that spike during Holi. Women especially being targeted by water balloons, balloons filled with stones, dirt or even harsh chemicals.

Flinging anything at moving trains is dangerous for commuters, more so if the doors are open or even in any case if they are shut, it simply must not and cannot be allowed to happen.

If warnings go unheeded, apprehend the culprits to send a message and this should also act as a deterrent for others.