A Vande Bharat Express travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru collided with a buffalo that had strayed onto the railway tracks near Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh, resulting in a brief disruption but no injuries to passengers.
The incident occurred between Hindupur Railway Station and Devarapalli Railway Station in Sri Sathya Sai district.
Train collides with buffalo near Hindupur
According to railway officials, the buffalo wandered onto the tracks as the train was approaching Hindupur station. Since the Vande Bharat Express was travelling at a relatively low speed, a major accident was avoided.
Although passengers were briefly startled by the impact, railway authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported.
Railway personnel from Hindupur immediately reached the location and conducted a detailed inspection of the train and tracks.
Services resume after inspection
The buffalo died in the collision and was later removed from the tracks by railway staff.
Officials stated that the train did not suffer any significant damage and was declared fit to continue its journey. After being halted for around 30 minutes to facilitate inspections and track clearance, the Vande Bharat Express resumed its journey towards Bengaluru.
Railway authorities reiterated that passenger safety was never compromised during the incident.
Stray animals remain a challenge
The incident has once again highlighted the recurring issue of stray cattle and animals entering railway tracks across various parts of the country.
Railway officials have repeatedly stressed the need for preventive measures to reduce such incidents, which can cause delays and pose operational challenges despite often resulting in limited damage.