Vande Bharat was damaged on the nose cone cover of the front compartment after the train passed over cattle near Atul in Mumbai on Saturday.
• Incidents of cattle trampling have adversely affected rail operations, increasing the likelihood of rail accidents, including rail accidents according to the Indian Railways.
Following several incidents of cattle stampede involving the Mumbai-Gandhinagar Vande Bharat Express, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Western Railway (WR) zone of the Indian Railways has been entrusted with the safety and security of passengers and railway property.
RPF of Mumbai Division of Western Railway has taken several steps to prevent cattle run over cases in view of a disturbing trend of cattle owners/cattle herders abandoning their cattle on railway land and tracks. In recent times, the Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar-Capital Vande Bharat Express has faced cases of cattle running away.
Incidents of cattle thrashing have adversely affected rail operations, increasing the chances of rail accidents including derailments. It also endangers the safety of passengers and can cause disruption in rail traffic and damage to rail property etc. For prevention of such cases in future, RPF Mumbai Division has identified various vulnerable places.
RPF has continuously conducted awareness and awareness campaigns at all these places. In 2022, RPF has so far conducted 1023 awareness campaigns at vulnerable places. Apart from this, the RPF has held a meeting with the sarpanches of all the villages around the railway track. This year more than 50 meetings have been held. Residents/cattle herders of nearby villages are being advised not to allow their cattle to graze near railway tracks as there is a possibility of livestock entering or crossing the tracks and run away by high speed trains . One of the reasons is people dumping garbage along railway tracks, as it attracts cattle to graze near railway lands/tracks. RPF Mumbai Division is also working closely with the city administration and city police to check the movement of stray animals near the railway tracks.
Western Railway is taking strict action against violators, whose cattle are found roaming on railway land/area. As per the provisions of the Railways Act 1989, the owners of cattle shall be punished under section 154 (willful or omission to endanger the safety of persons traveling by railway, punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 1 year, or with fine or with both) and under section can be punished. 147 (Trespass and refusal to trespass, punishable with imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of Rs.1000/- or both).
Meanwhile, cattle overs affected 200 trains in the first nine days of October and over 4,000 trains so far this year, official data showed.
The worst affected is the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express train which was launched on 1 October. It suffered three run-ins with cattle this month, which damaged its "nose".
Officials said the railways have barricaded several areas around the tracks, where such incidents can happen, but covering longer stretches is difficult as there are residential areas on one side and fields on the other.
The railways has also identified the parts which have registered a high number of such cases and the process of fencing them is underway. An official told PTI that work in 40 per cent of these sections has been completed.
“Railways is making all efforts to reduce Cattle Run Over (CRO). We are indicating the places where a pattern is found. We visit such sites and find out the reasons for CRO time and again. Sometimes, there are reasons that can be addressed, but other times no direct cause is found. Still, our team visits nearby villages and interacts with sarpanches. We villagers Advise on the results of the CRO.
Amitabh Sharma, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railways, said, "Sometimes, illegal passages are found to be made across the tracks. Sometimes, there is a need to fencing a patch."
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