‘Vande Bharat Rukwa Diye’: Men Face Possible Life Sentence After Blocking High-Speed Train for Reels

New Delhi, january 24, 2026: In a shocking display of reckless “content creation,” a group of young men is facing severe legal consequences after a viral video showed them intentionally blocking the Vande Bharat Express by placing wooden logs on the tracks. The video, which has sparked nationwide outrage, captures the moment the high-speed train was forced to come to a grinding halt, with the perpetrators heard celebrating, “Vande Bharat rukwa diye” (We made the Vande Bharat stop).

The Incident: Fame Over Safety

The footage, which began circulating on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram on January 23, 2026, shows the group laughing and providing “live commentary” as the semi-high-speed train approaches the obstruction. As the locomotive pilot applied emergency brakes to avoid a potential derailment, the men are seen mocking the situation.

In a particularly tense moment in the clip, a railway official or constable is seen approaching the group from the stopped train. The men nonchalantly inform him they weren’t trying to board, but were simply “recording a video.”

Legal Hammer: Section 150 and the “Life Sentence”

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and local authorities were alerted immediately after the video went viral. Legal experts and railway officials have pointed out that such acts are not mere pranks but high-level criminal offenses.

Under Section 150 of the Railways Act, 1989, “maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck a train” is a non-bailable offense. The law is clear:

• Intentional Damage: Placing any wood, stone, or other matter on the railway with intent to obstruct or cause danger is punishable by life imprisonment or rigorous imprisonment for up to 10 years.
• Public Safety Threat: Given that Vande Bharat trains travel at speeds up to 160 km/h, such obstructions could lead to catastrophic derailments and mass casualties.

“Stopping a train by placing logs for social media engagement is not stupidity—it is criminal endangerment. We are coordinating with state police to ensure the strictest possible charges are filed,” a senior railway official stated.

Public Backlash and the “Reel” Menace

The incident has reignited a heated debate over the “reel culture” in India, where individuals risk their lives—and the lives of hundreds of others—for viral fame.

What’s Next?

The Ministry of Railways has reiterated its “Zero Tolerance” policy toward track vandalism. Following the identification of the men in the video, arrests are expected shortly. This case is likely to serve as a landmark warning to those who jeopardize public safety for digital clout.