Chandigarh man alleges criminal negligence as several injured while boarding moving Shatabdi Express

A 59-year-old Chandigarh resident has described the frightening scenes at Chandigarh Railway Station as a “dance of death” after panic allegedly caused by the premature movement of the Kalka–New Delhi Shatabdi Express left several passengers injured on Saturday.

Acting on the complaint, the Government Railway Police, Chandigarh, has registered an FIR while the Railways has ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident.

The complaint was filed by a Chandigarh resident, Surinder Singh Bhardwaj, who accused the loco pilot and on-duty railway operating staff of gross and criminal negligence.

According to Bhardwaj, the Kalka–New Delhi Shatabdi Express (Train No. 12006) arrived at Platform No. 1 around 6:49 am and began moving again within seconds — before its scheduled departure time and without proper clearance or announcement — while passengers were still boarding.

He alleged that the sudden start triggered panic on the platform and that the train was abruptly halted again moments later, causing passengers to lose balance, fall, and suffer injuries.

“It was a dance of death. I cannot forget this ever,” Bhardwaj told The Indian Express, claiming that around 20 to 40 passengers, including elderly persons and women, were injured in the chaos.

Bhardwaj said he was to travel with his wife and daughter in Coach C-6, which he claimed was 40–50 metres away from the marked stopping position of the train. “We had to run to reach our coach. Within no time — well before the scheduled halt of around eight minutes — the train started moving. I somehow pushed my wife and daughter into the coach, but when I tried to board, I fell on the platform,” he alleged.

He claimed that several other passengers also fell while attempting to board the moving train and that his luggage was left behind on the platform. In his complaint, he urged the authorities to preserve CCTV footage of Platform No. 1 near Coach C-6 and take immediate action.

On the basis of the complaint and preliminary inquiry, the GRP has registered an FIR under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 154 of the Railways Act against the loco pilot of Train No. 12006 and other on-duty railway operating staff.

The FIR has been registered under Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 125 (endangering human life or personal safety through rash or negligent acts), 198 (public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person), 199 (public servant disobeying direction under law), 281 (rash driving), 3(5) (criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention) of BNS and Section 154 of the Railways Act.

Urmila, SHO, GRP Chandigarh, said an FIR has been registered under the applicable sections of the BNS. “The matter is under probe. After a detailed inquiry, further action will be taken,” she said.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), Ambala Division, Naveen Jha, said that following the complaint, a departmental inquiry has been ordered. “A committee comprising officers from Mechanical, Operations and Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been constituted. The committee will submit its report within two days,” he said.

Meanwhile, a railway official maintained that the train pilot must have sounded the horn before departure and said claims that the train left unnoticed or before the scheduled halt time cannot be accepted outright. “An inquiry is underway to establish the facts,” the official added.

Bhardwaj, however, has demanded strict action, including suspension and prosecution of the said train driver, medical assistance and compensation for all injured passengers, stating that such incidents endanger lives and undermine passenger safety.