A routine food delivery nearly turned fatal for a delivery agent working with Swiggy, after he was seriously injured while getting down from a moving train at Anantapur railway station in Andhra Pradesh. The incident has sparked renewed concern over the safety risks faced by gig workers under tight delivery timelines.
What happened at the station
According to a video shared on Instagram, the delivery partner had boarded the Prashanti Express to deliver a parcel to a passenger travelling in First AC. The train halt reportedly lasted only one to two minutes, and with multiple coach doors and the delivery taking longer than expected, the train began moving before the agent could safely get off.
While attempting to alight from the moving train, the delivery partner suffered serious injuries. The bystander who recorded and posted the video stated that the agent was under pressure to get down quickly as he had other deliveries to complete, with his bike and delivery bag waiting outside the station.
“This is not an accident — it’s a failure of safety and responsibility. No delivery is worth a human life,” the post read, urging the company to support the injured worker.
Public outrage and safety concerns
The video quickly went viral, drawing strong reactions from social media users who highlighted the everyday dangers faced by gig workers. Many criticised ultra-fast delivery expectations and practices such as train deliveries.
One user wrote, “Boycott 10-minute deliveries and train deliveries — this risks lives.” Another commented that customers should be required to collect orders from the platform or train door, rather than expecting delivery partners to navigate crowded coaches.
Swiggy responds
Following the backlash, Swiggy issued a statement confirming that the delivery partner is safe and did not face any penalties from authorities. The company reiterated that its protocols strictly prohibit boarding or exiting moving trains.
“Safety is our absolute priority. We have further strengthened safety training to ensure partners understand and follow protocols to stay out of harm’s way,” the statement said.
Larger issue for gig economy
The incident has once again brought attention to the pressures faced by gig workers, especially those operating under strict time constraints. Activists and users alike are calling for clearer safety norms, better customer awareness, and stronger accountability to ensure that speed never comes at the cost of human life.