Tragic Incident: Vande Bharat Train Hits Selfie-Taking Workers Near Rajkot, Two Dead
Tragic Incident: Vande Bharat Train Hits Selfie-Taking Workers Near Rajkot, Two Dead
The victims, migrant factory workers from Uttar Pradesh, were struck while taking a group selfie near the railway tracks.
Two migrant factory workers were killed and another was critically injured after a Vande Bharat train hit them while they were taking a group selfie near railway tracks in Gujarat’s Rajkot district on Monday evening.
The incident occurred around 4.45 pm near a railway crossing between Bhaktinagar and Ribda stations, when the Veraval–Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express was passing through the area. According to police, the three men misjudged their distance from the oncoming train while standing close to the tracks.
“All three were trying to take a group selfie near the railway track. Due to miscalculation about the distance from the train, they were hit,” said Aji Dam police station sub-inspector A.R. Rathod.
One of the men died on the spot after being struck by the high-speed train, while the other two sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a hospital. One of the injured later succumbed during treatment, police said. The third person remains hospitalised and is undergoing treatment.
The deceased have been identified as Sandip Patel and Sandip Koli, while the injured man is Kapil Patel. All three were in their 20s and were natives of Uttar Pradesh, working as factory labourers in Rajkot.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the group had gone towards the railway line to see off one of their friends who was returning to his hometown. While crossing the tracks, they reportedly paused to take a selfie, placing themselves dangerously close to the train’s path.
“When they were crossing the tracks, they decided to take a group selfie near the tracks. However, they were eventually hit by the train,” Rathod said, adding that the train briefly stopped after the incident.
The tragic accident has once again highlighted the growing risk associated with taking selfies near railway tracks, especially around high-speed trains such as the Vande Bharat. Railway authorities and police have repeatedly warned against trespassing on tracks and engaging in risky behaviour near passing trains.
Officials said further investigation is underway, and necessary procedures have been initiated following the deaths. The bodies were sent for post-mortem, and the families of the deceased have been informed.
