A BJP MLA fell onto a railway track on Tuesday while flagging off the newly launched Vande Bharat during an event at Etawah Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh.
The incident comes on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off six Vande Bharat trains for Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar and UP at Ranchi. Among the newly inaugurated Vande Bharat trains, the prime minister also virtually launched a new Vande Bharat between Agra and Varanasi.
When the Vande Bharat left Agra and reached Etawah Junction on Tuesday evening, a huge crowd was eagerly waiting to welcome the newly launched train.
Several leaders, including Etawah MLA Sarita Bhadoria, welcomed the loco-pilot and the train manager with garlands. However, chaos erupted soon after when people pushed forward during which the Etawah MLA fell on the railway track.
Bhadoria sustained minor injuries and she was immediately brought back to the platform. A video of the incident has gone viral showing the MLA holding a green flag.
The crowd, which is seen raising slogans, went out of control pushing its way forward. A police personnel could also be seen pushing back the crowd, protecting the MLA from falling.
Soon after the MLA fell, several people rushed to rescue her, while others could be seen alerting the train loco-pilot.
The inauguration ceremony was attened by several other leaders, including Samajwadi Party MP Jitendra Dihore, former MP Ramshankar Katheria, and Rajya Sabha MP Geeta Shakya, among others.
The Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express will depart from Agra, stoping at Tundla Railway Station at 5:05 pm, Etawah at 6:05 pm, Kanpur at 7:50 pm, and will arrive in Varanasi at 11:55 pm.
The train would leave from Varanasi at 12:30 am, reaching Agra by 8:00 am. Currently, the train is scheduled to operate six days a week, excluding Fridays. However, the Railways have not issued any official timetable and fare details.