Vande Bharat Tragedy: Two Kerala Nursing Students Killed by Train Near Bengaluru — Investigation Underway

Two first-year nursing students from Kerala were tragically killed on Sunday afternoon (November 23) after being hit by a Vande Bharat Express near Chikkabanavara railway station, on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Police confirmed the incident to PTI on Monday and said the victims died on the spot.

The deceased students were identified as:

• Terlin Eliza Shaji, 19
• Justin Joseph, 20

Both were from Kerala and were pursuing their BSc Nursing at a private institute in Bengaluru.

⚠️ How Did the Accident Happen?

According to railway police, the incident occurred around 2:35 PM on Sunday when the students attempted to cross the railway tracks near Chikkabanavara on their way to their nearby paying guest accommodation.

As they stepped onto the tracks, they were struck by the Belagavi-bound Vande Bharat Express departing from Bengaluru.

Police said the impact was severe, and both students were found in a dismembered condition, confirming instantaneous death.

🕵️ Investigation in Progress

A senior Railway Police officer said they are reviewing:

• CCTV footage
• Eyewitness accounts

to determine whether the deaths were a tragic accident or a possible case of suicide.

An Unnatural Death Report (UDR) has been filed at the Bengaluru Rural Railway Police Station. Further inquiries are underway.

🔁 Similar Vande Bharat Incident Last Month

In a similar case in October, two daily wage workers were run over by a Chandigarh–Ajmer Vande Bharat near Pataudi Road Railway Station. They were crossing the tracks when the high-speed train approached unexpectedly.

Police said both men were unaware of the train’s speed and proximity — highlighting recurring safety concerns around railway track crossings.

Originally published on 24×7-news.com.