On Monday, BJP’s Etawah MLA Sarita Bhadauriya fell onto the railway tracks while attempting to wave the green flag for the Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on a crowded platform as the train arrived, and videos of the mishap quickly circulated on social media.
BJP MLA Sarita Bhadoria fell on railway track in Agra during inauguration of New Vande Bharat Train. pic.twitter.com/X5I7D1DgQW
— Hellobanker (@Hellobanker_in) September 17, 2024
Details of the Incident
The 61-year-old lawmaker, who is serving her second term, was among a group of individuals holding the green flag at the platform when she lost her balance and fell onto the tracks. Following the virtual inauguration of the train by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the train, numbered 20175, was officially flagged off by Rail Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu from Agra.
Aftermath and Response
According to Sanjeev Bhadauriya, the treasurer of BJP’s Etawah unit, Sarita was helped off the tracks and remained on the platform for a while before consulting doctors. He confirmed that she did not appear to have any visible injuries and is currently resting at home, although any potential internal injuries have yet to be assessed.
As the train approached, a chaotic scene unfolded on the platform with various political figures, including Samajwadi Party MP Jitendra Douwhare and former BJP MP Ram Shankar, present for the flag-off. The train’s horn signaled its departure, leading to a rush among supporters, which resulted in Bhadauriya being pushed off the platform. Fortunately, bystanders managed to stop the train in time, preventing a serious accident, and police quickly rescued her from the tracks.
Train Operations
The Vande Bharat Express is expected to cover the distance between Agra and Varanasi in approximately seven hours. The return service will operate as train number 20176 from Varanasi to Agra, while the Agra-Varanasi service will continue as number 20175. The official operation date for the train will be announced soon, as stated by PRO Prashasti Srivastava from the Agra division of the railways.
