Bhubaneswar – In a disturbing incident that highlights the dangers of social media-driven stunts, two minors from Odisha have landed in legal trouble after a video surfaced showing one of them lying on railway tracks while a train passed dangerously close. The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has issued a strong warning to the public, emphasizing that railway tracks are no place for thrill-seeking or social media fame.
The alarming video, reportedly shot on June 29 near Purnapani Station in Boudh district, showed a 12-year-old boy performing the stunt as his 15-year-old friend recorded the clip. The footage, which was brought to the attention of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) on July 5, triggered immediate action. The RPF team at Balangir, along with local police from Baunsuni Station, launched a joint investigation and soon traced the boys to a nearby village.
With the help of villagers and family members, the authorities visited the exact location between Purnapani and Jharmunda Railway Stations where the incident occurred. The minors and their guardians were later taken to the RPF post for further questioning. Legal proceedings were initiated under Sections 153, 145(b), and 147 of the Railways Act, 1989, and actions are now progressing in line with the Juvenile Justice Act, under parental supervision.
ECoR has reiterated that such reckless behavior not only endangers the lives of those involved but also poses a serious threat to railway safety and operations. It stressed that trespassing on railway tracks is a punishable offence and such actions must be discouraged at all levels.
The railways have been actively conducting awareness drives in schools, stations, and nearby villages, along with digital campaigns, to prevent such incidents. Despite repeated warnings, the obsession with viral content continues to tempt youngsters into dangerous acts.
In its appeal to the public, especially to parents and teachers, ECoR urged everyone to educate children about the deadly consequences of such stunts. A moment of online attention is never worth risking one’s life.
