Student Held for Accidental Stone-Pelting on Vande Bharat
A first-year student was playfully throwing stones at poles; a case was registered under Railway Act
Nellore: A stone-pelting incident occurred on the 20701 Vande Bharat Express (Secunderabad to Tirupati) on July 19, 2025, at around 12:30 PM, near KM No. 176/3-5, on the north end of the Penna River bridge at Venkateswarapuram in Nellore city.
The stones struck seats 43 and 44 in Coach C-1 of the train. Following a control room alert, Shiva Rupavath, SIPF/Nellore, along with his team, rushed to the spot and apprehended the accused, identified as Thani Balaji (20), a resident of Kotha Koduru, T.P. Guduru mandal, SPSR Nellore district.
Balaji, a first-year ITI student, was reportedly on his way to his uncle’s house in Janardhan Colony, walking along the railway track.
According to the investigation, he was playfully pelting stones at electric poles, and one of the stones inadvertently hit the electric pole and then struck the C1 coach of the Vande Bharat Express.
A case has been registered against him under Crime No. 758/2025 under Sections 153 and 147 of the Railway Act. He was served a notice under Sections 35(3)(4)(5)(6) of the BNSS and later released on bail following the directions of the SJFCM, railways, Nellore.
Authorities confirmed that the accused had no prior criminal record, and the act appears to be accidental and without malicious intent. However, railway officials have reiterated the dangers of trespassing and warned against irresponsible behaviour near tracks.
