Three Individuals Arrested for Dangerous Stunt on Rail Tracks: Boy Liened Down as Train Approached
In a chilling demonstration of reckless behaviour driven by the pursuit of social media fame, three minor boys in Odisha, India, performed a life-threatening stunt on railway tracks near Dalupali, close to Purunapani station in Boudh district. The incident, which occurred in July 2025, saw one of the boys lie down on the tracks as a high-speed train passed overhead, an act that was later condemned as a serious security breach by authorities.
The boy who performed the stunt admitted that his heart raced when the train passed over him, underscoring the severe danger involved. The stunt was filmed by one of the boy's friends and directed by another, with the intention of creating a viral reel. Upon the train passing, those watching the stunt celebrated and clapped.
This incident serves as a recent example of a troubling trend where individuals, particularly minors and young adults, engage in dangerous activities on railway tracks in a bid to gain social media attention. Similar incidents have been reported across the country, including Uttar Pradesh, where a man was arrested after filming himself lying on the rails as a train passed, and Telangana, where a woman disrupted train services significantly by driving a car on the tracks.
Such stunts carry a very high risk of injury or death due to the proximity to high-speed trains. They also disrupt railway services, forcing train cancellations, diversions, and operational delays, affecting thousands of passengers. Legal repercussions are also a possibility, with authorities detaining and arresting individuals involved, including minors, under railway safety laws to curb this behaviour.
To address this issue, railway authorities have launched urgent safety drives, especially after incidents, to educate communities about the grave risks associated with such stunts. For instance, the East Coast Railway initiated a campaign in Odisha following the minor boys’ stunt to inform locals about railway safety laws and fatal consequences. Government Railway Police are also actively investigating and taking action against offenders to deter reckless behaviour.
Community engagement is another key aspect of prevention. Encouraging community vigilance and reporting suspicious or dangerous activities near tracks can help in preventing such incidents. Social media monitoring and swift response to viral videos that may encourage or glamorise hazardous stunts are also essential.
Technological measures, such as enhancing surveillance near tracks and implementing physical barriers to limit access, can further aid in preventing such incidents. However, prevention requires a combination of awareness, strict enforcement, and community cooperation to protect individuals and maintain railway operations.
Parents are also urged to monitor their children's actions on social media to prevent them from engaging in such risky behaviour. As the allure of social media fame continues to drive risk-taking, it is crucial for all stakeholders to work together to ensure the safety of individuals and the smooth operation of railway services.
References: [1] Times of India. (2025, July 15). Three minor boys detained for lying on railway tracks near Purunapani station. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/three-minor-boys-detained-for-lying-on-railway-tracks-near-purunapani-station/articleshow/91244561.cms
[2] The New Indian Express. (2025, July 16). East Coast Railway launches safety drive after minor boys' stunt near Purunapani station. Retrieved from https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2025/jul/16/east-coast-railway-launches-safety-drive-after-minor-boys-stunt-near-purunapani-station-2385560.html
[3] The Hindu. (2023, March 10). Woman drives car on railway tracks in Telangana, disrupts train services. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/woman-drives-car-on-railway-tracks-in-telangana-disrupts-train-services/article65834957.ece
[4] BBC News. (2020, February 13). Train surfing: The deadly trend that refuses to die. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51461085
- Despite various efforts to curb the trend, reports of individuals performing dangerous stunts on railway tracks for social media attention continue to emerge, with incidents similar to the one in Uttar Pradesh, where a man filmed himself lying on the rails, and in Telangana, where a woman drove a car on the tracks, making headlines.
- In an attempt to combat this issue, authorities have enforced legal repercussions, engaged communities, and used technological measures, but success depends on a collective effort from all stakeholders, particularly parents who can prevent their children from engaging in such risky behavior, given the persistent allure of social media fame.
