Vande Bharat stranded for 4.5 hours after brake failure, passengers run out of water | WATCH

Ranchi: Passengers aboard the Varanasi-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express endured a difficult night after the train became stranded on a remote stretch of track in Bihar for more than four and a half hours due to a brake system malfunction, leading to complaints of water shortages and poor onboard conditions.

Vande Bharat comes to a halt in remote Bihar stretch

The Varanasi-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express suffered a major technical fault while travelling on the DDU-Gaya rail section late on Friday. According to railway officials and passengers, the train's braking system developed a malfunction shortly after departing from DDU, forcing the driver to stop the train between Shiu Sagar and Kumhau railway stations in Bihar's Rohtas district.

Several attempts were reportedly made to restart the journey, but the brake system continued to malfunction, preventing the train from moving forward.

As a result, passengers remained stranded in a relatively isolated area for more than four and a half hours.

Passengers complain of water shortage and lack of information

The prolonged halt triggered frustration among travellers, many of whom said they received little information about the situation.

Passenger Saurabh Kumar said food and drinking water supplies became exhausted during the wait. He also claimed that no railway personnel came to provide updates for long periods.

According to passengers, the extended stoppage created additional problems as onboard washrooms became difficult to use after hours of inactivity.

Another passenger, Ashok Kumar Sharma, told reporters that travellers were informed there was a problem with the train's brake system but remained stuck for an extended period before technical teams arrived.

Technical team rushed to the spot

Railway authorities dispatched a technical team from Sasaram to inspect the train and rectify the fault. Engineers worked at the site before eventually restoring operations.

After repairs were completed, the train was cautiously moved to Sasaram station, where further checks were carried out.

The train, which was scheduled to reach Sasaram at around 5:40 pm, reportedly arrived at approximately 10:54 pm, resulting in a delay of nearly five hours.

RPF says issue resolved

Officials from the Railway Protection Force said the technical issue had been resolved and the train was allowed to continue its journey.

While services resumed, the incident caused inconvenience to hundreds of passengers and highlighted the challenges that can arise even on India's premium semi-high-speed rail services.

Alert for passengers travelling today

Railway authorities have advised passengers travelling on the Ranchi-Varanasi Vande Bharat route to monitor train status updates before leaving for the station, as operational schedules may be affected by the delay.

The incident has also prompted renewed attention on maintenance and technical reliability, especially for premium trains that are promoted as symbols of India's modern railway network.

Why this incident stands out

The Vande Bharat Express is among Indian Railways' flagship train services and is designed to offer faster travel, modern amenities and improved passenger comfort. The sight of one of these trains stranded for hours on a remote stretch due to a brake malfunction has drawn attention because of the contrast between its premium image and the difficulties experienced by passengers during the breakdown.

For many passengers, the bigger concern was not merely the delay but the prolonged wait without adequate water, food replenishment or timely communication while stranded far from the nearest station.