Old Video of Gang Men Reprimanding Boy for Placing Stones on Track Shared as Recent, Averting Odisha-like Accident - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 6, 2023
In the aftermath of the devastating train accident in Odisha, which resulted in the loss of nearly 280 lives, a video has surfaced on social media showing railway gang men reprimanding a boy who had placed stones on the railway track. The video is being shared with a claim that another potential mishap was successfully prevented. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Recent video of a group of Railway gang men reprimanding a boy for placing stones on a railway track in Karnataka.
Fact: This is a five-year-old incident that happened near Kalaburagi in Karnataka. Railway gang men near the Kalaburagi railway station caught some boys placing stones on the tracks. They reprimanded one of the boys, who was then made to remove the stones. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
An internet search using relevant keywords has revealed that the video in question has been circulating since 2018.
Based on comments suggesting that the language spoken in the video matches the Kalaburagi accent of Kannada, we reached out to authorities such as the Bidar Railway Police, Kalaburagi RPF, and Raichur Railway Police. All of them have confirmed that this incident took place during the 2018 period when railway gang men near the Kalaburagi railway station caught some boys placing stones on the tracks. They reprimanded one of the boys, who was then made to remove the stones. No FIR was registered in this case. FACTLY couldn’t independently verify the identity of the boys, their motives, or any potential individuals involved.
While some children may place stones or random objects on railway tracks for amusement, it is crucial to understand the potential risks involved. Although many of these objects may be crushed under the immense weight of a train, it is strongly advised against engaging in such activities. Trains are equipped with protective mechanisms, such as cattle guards, to mitigate obstructions. Nonetheless, placing objects on the tracks can still have detrimental consequences. Such objects have the potential to generate sparks upon contact with the train’s wheels, posing a hazardous situation.
Furthermore, they can be forcefully propelled towards nearby individuals or passing trains, endangering their safety. When large-sized boulders or a significant number of objects are involved, there is a heightened risk of damaging the train’s axles or disrupting its wheel alignment, potentially resulting in a derailment. It is therefore of utmost importance to refrain from placing any objects on railway tracks to ensure the safety of both passengers and the train itself.
To sum it up, a five-year-old video depicting railway gang men reprimanding a boy for placing stones on a railway track is currently being circulated as a recent incident of preventing an Odisha-like accident.