The Vande Bharat Express, a flagship of India’s railway modernization efforts, has recently faced another challenge that has raised concerns about its operational reliability. In a journey from Delhi to Varanasi, passengers on board the Vande Bharat Express were confronted with an unexpected issue: water leaking from the roof of the train’s coach.
A video capturing the incident quickly went viral on social media platforms, depicting water dripping from the ceiling and soaking seats inside the Vande Bharat train.
This incident follows recent controversies surrounding the train, including complaints about food quality, which have collectively cast a shadow on its reputation.
One such post on Twitter, shared by user Sachin Gupta, highlighted the severity of the issue:
“Look at Vande Bharat, one of India’s top passenger trains. Water is dripping from the roof. The train number is 22416, on the Delhi-Varanasi route.”
भारत की टॉप मोस्ट पैसेंजर ट्रेनों में एक वंदेभारत देखिए. छत से पानी टपक रहा है. दिल्ली-वाराणसी ट्रैक है और ट्रेन नंबर है 22416. pic.twitter.com/OoPiKbkQOr
— Sachin Gupta (@SachinGuptaUP) July 2, 2024
In response to the public outcry, Northern Railway officials swiftly addressed the incident. They attributed the water leakage to a temporary blockage in the train’s piping system and reassured passengers that the issue was promptly resolved by onboard staff.
Slight water leakage was observed in coach because of temporary blockage of pipes! The same was attended and rectified by the staff on the train .
The inconvenience caused is regretted.
— Northern Railway (@RailwayNorthern) July 2, 2024
Passengers, taken aback by the leakage, voiced their discontent and frustration both onboard and online. Social media platforms were flooded with posts from travelers sharing their experiences and expressing disappointment over the handling of the situation by the Ministry of Railways.
Please don’t defame. RailMin is providing shower facility for passengers. It’s a good step 👍
— PuNsTeR™ (@Pun_Starr) July 2, 2024
@RailwayNorthern you need to introspect and be truthful…poor quality of coaches.vibrations and which drainpipe was blocked.can you explain on a diagram. should render a apology and no cover up.roof mounted AC coach side has pipes.the water is leaking through roof
— arvind (@shuklaks81_g) July 4, 2024
Corruption at peak.. Railway kabhi sudhar nahi sakta.. Modiji ho ya Jogi ji..
— Ashwani Sharma (@Ashwani10945961) July 3, 2024
Vikas hai
Vande Bharat with inbuilt shower facility,just like A380 First class
— Abhishek Hiremath (@abhihiremath94) July 2, 2024
Railway ministry will reply to it after 1 year & say it’s a Old video & don’t defame Railways 😅
— Veena Jain (@DrJain21) July 2, 2024
The Vande Bharat Express, touted for its state-of-the-art amenities and advanced safety measures such as Kavach technology, aims to provide passengers with a faster, more comfortable travel experience. However, incidents like this underscore the challenges faced in maintaining such high standards across India’s vast railway network.
Despite assurances from railway authorities, the incident has prompted calls for stricter oversight and improved maintenance protocols to ensure the consistent performance of flagship trains like the Vande Bharat Express.
As discussions continue on social media and among passengers, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust infrastructure and maintenance practices in upholding the reputation of India’s railways as a safe and efficient mode of transport.
