A violent altercation between employees of the Kota and Agra Railway Divisions occurred on Thursday at Gangapur City Junction in Rajasthan over the operation of the newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express train. A viral video of the incident has sparked widespread attention as officials investigate the matter, and legal action is being pursued against unidentified railway personnel.
The Incident: Loco Pilots Clash
The conflict began during the inaugural run of the Vande Bharat Express, which operates between Agra and Udaipur. Employees from both the Kota and Agra Railway Divisions were involved in a heated argument over which division would operate the semi high-speed train. This disagreement led to a physical confrontation between the loco pilots at Gangapur City Junction, damaging railway property and resulting in assaults.
According to reports, the guard room’s lock was damaged, and a glass window was shattered during the scuffle. In the viral video, loco pilots can be seen attempting to enter the train through its windows as tensions escalated. Some railway employees, including a loco pilot and his assistant, were assaulted, with their clothes torn during the altercation.
Investigations Underway
As the video spread across social media, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) faced criticism for not intervening in the fight, despite being present at the scene. Witnesses allege that some RPF personnel were recording the altercation instead of stopping it. Following the incident, Raghavendra Saraswat, a guard from the Agra Railway Division, filed a complaint. The Government Railway Police (GRP) Gangapur City Station House Officer (SHO), Dalbir Singh, confirmed that a case has been registered against unknown railway personnel, and investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible.
The Route and Tensions
The Vande Bharat Express travels through multiple divisions, starting from the North-Western Railway Ajmer Division, passing through the Kota Railway Division, and concluding in the Agra Railway Division. The train’s arrival at Gangapur from Kota on September 2 led to the dispute, as drivers from the Agra Division sought control of the train, which was refused by the Kota division, sparking the clash.
This incident raises concerns about operational coordination and employee conduct within the Indian Railways, especially concerning high-profile projects like the Vande Bharat Express.
