Kozhikode, Kerala: A 22-year-old bioinformatics student from Aluva UC College (Ernakulam), is the latest victim of a growing spate of stone-pelting attacks on Indian trains.

Aishwarya, returning home to Vadakara (Kozhikode), was seated in a general compartment on the Executive Express to Kannur when stones struck her train near Kadalundi on Monday night around 9.30pm. The impact fractured the right side of her jaw, ruptured right side of her lower lip, and completely knocked out two teeth, while three others were partially damaged.

“My daughter told me, ‘Father… since gas ran out, managing food at the hostel has become extremely difficult…’” said Ramakrishnan, Aishwarya’s father, explaining her decision to return home. The LPG shortage, linked to the Middle East conflict, had affected the Paying Guest accommodation where she stayed. “Anyway, there is no college here. Daughter, come here. You can continue your studies from here,” he added.

Aishwarya boarded the train at Aluva at 6pm. The accident happened barely an hour before the train was scheduled to reach Vadakara. She was rushed to a private hospital in Kozhikode, where she underwent jaw and plastic surgery on Tuesday evening. Doctors cautioned that some of her partially damaged teeth might need removal later. The surgery alone is expected to cost around ₹2 lakh.

Rising attacks prompt railway warning

The Southern Railway’s Chennai Division recently issued a circular highlighting the severe risks posed by stone-pelting.

“Stone pelting is a grave safety hazard. Stones thrown at moving trains can shatter window panes, resulting in serious injuries and potential permanent harm to passengers, including children and senior citizens,” the circular stated.

It warned that such acts are punishable under the Railways Act, 1989. Section 152 allows imprisonment of up to ten years or life, while Section 154 punishes acts endangering passenger safety with imprisonment and/or fines. Authorities urged parents, teachers, and social activists to counsel youth living near railway tracks.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) have stepped up patrolling and CCTV surveillance. Passengers are advised to report suspicious activity near tracks to Railway Helpline 139.

Scale of the problem

Stone-pelting has emerged as a serious threat to Indian Railways. Between 2021 and 2025, over 12,000 incidents were reported nationwide. Nearly 8,000 of these, since 2023, targeted high-speed services including the Vande Bharat Express.

The government has spent ₹5.79 crore repairing damage to coaches over this period. More than 8,400 offenders have been arrested in the past five years. Officials continue to work with local police to enhance track security and emphasise that public cooperation is crucial to prevent further incidents.