Vande Bharat Express Faces Water Leakage Mid-Journey; Video Goes Viral, Railways Responds
Vande Bharat Express Faces Water Leakage Mid-Journey; Video Goes Viral, Railways Responds
New Delhi, June 24 – A recent journey aboard the Delhi-bound Vande Bharat Express turned unpleasant for several passengers after water began leaking from the train’s roof, soaking seats and personal belongings. The incident, which occurred in coach C-7 of Train No. 22415 (Varanasi–New Delhi Vande Bharat Express), was captured on video by a passenger and has since gone viral on social media.
In the video posted on X (formerly Twitter) on June 23, the passenger claimed that the air conditioning was also malfunctioning, making the experience extremely uncomfortable despite the premium fare. The post read:
“AC not working and water leakage in #VandeBharat train. Extremely uncomfortable journey despite the premium fare. Multiple complaints lodged, but no action taken. Kindly look into it. PNR: 2137164305 @RailMinIndia @IRCTCOFFICIAL1 @AshwiniVaishnaw @RailwaySeva.”
The video garnered over 5,000 views and attracted widespread criticism from netizens over the poor maintenance of one of India’s flagship trains. Several users echoed the passenger’s demand for a refund and called for accountability from railway authorities.
In response to the growing outrage, Indian Railways addressed the issue through its official grievance redressal handle, Railway Seva, acknowledging the incident and providing a technical explanation.
According to the Railways, the leakage was caused by clogged drain holes in the Return Air Duct of the Roof Mounted Package Unit (RMPU). The blockage, attributed to the return air filter or “Mix media,” led to water accumulating under the cooling coil. During braking, the collected condensate water entered the return air duct and eventually leaked into the passenger seating area.
Official statement from Railway Seva:
“A case of water leakage was reported from the return air duct in coach C-7 (seat no. 76) on Train No. 22415 (Varanasi–New Delhi Vande Bharat Express). Root Cause: Condensate water accumulated under the cooling coil of the RMPU due to drain holes of drip tray blocked by Mix media/Return air filter. The water, during braking, entered the return air duct, causing water to drip into the passenger area.”
Railway officials stated that corrective actions have been initiated and maintenance protocols are being reviewed to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
The Vande Bharat Express, touted as India’s next-generation semi-high-speed train, has faced occasional operational issues in the past. However, incidents like this continue to raise questions about the upkeep and consistency of passenger experience on premium services.
