The Railway Protection Force has warned that throwing stones at trains is a serious offence that can attract imprisonment of up to 10 years or even life sentence under the Railways Act, 1989.
Incidents of stone pelting have been reported on suburban railway routes including Chennai Beach–Tambaram, Chennai–Arakkonam and Chennai–Gummidipoondi sections, as well as on high-speed trains such as Vande Bharat.
Railway officials said such acts are often carried out by children playing near tracks or by anti-social elements. These incidents not only damage train windows but also pose serious risks to passengers, including injuries and loss of vision.
According to the Railway Protection Force, most stone pelting incidents occur during evening hours and at night, creating fear among passengers, especially children and elderly persons.
Officials noted that damage to high-speed trains like Vande Bharat leads to losses running into several lakhs of rupees annually.
Under Section 150 of the Railways Act, any act that endangers passenger safety, including stone pelting, is punishable with imprisonment up to 10 years or life. In cases where such acts result in death, stricter penalties, including capital punishment, may be imposed.
The Chennai Railway Division has intensified preventive measures, including installation of CCTV cameras along tracks, drone surveillance and awareness campaigns in schools located near railway lines.
Authorities have urged the public to refrain from such acts and to report incidents, emphasising that endangering train passengers is a grave criminal offence.
