Ranchi, July 13: The Ranchi-Patna Vande Bharat Express was delayed by more than three hours on Sunday after its engine developed a technical fault during the journey, disrupting travel for hundreds of passengers.According to railway sources, Train No. 22350 departed Ranchi as scheduled at around 4:15 p.m.
Shortly after leaving the station, the train experienced a mechanical problem that affected its movement. The loco pilot attempted to restore normal operations, but the issue persisted, forcing the train to proceed at a reduced speed.
The train eventually reached Barkakana Junction well behind schedule.
Railway officials arranged a replacement locomotive, which was attached to the train before it resumed its journey later in the evening.
The replacement engine also reportedly encountered a minor technical issue near Koderma, resulting in additional delays.
After reaching Gaya Junction, a mechanical team conducted a detailed inspection of the locomotive to ensure the train’s safe operation before it continued toward Patna.
The Vande Bharat Express finally arrived in Patna more than three and a half hours behind its scheduled arrival time.
The prolonged delay caused inconvenience to passengers, with several travellers reportedly expressing their concerns through social media and seeking clarification from railway authorities.
Railway officials have not yet issued a detailed statement on the cause of the technical failure.
The incident has raised concerns over the operational reliability of one of the country’s premium semi-high-speed train services.
In a separate incident on the same day, the loco pilot of the Gorakhpur-Patna Vande Bharat Express reportedly became unconscious while the train was en route.
The assistant loco pilot immediately assumed control and safely brought the train to a halt, preventing any untoward incident.
The driver was provided medical attention, and further arrangements were made to continue the journey.
The two incidents have prompted fresh attention to operational safety and maintenance practices on Vande Bharat services.
