Hyderabad: Train services were disrupted on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Thursday morning after a young woman drove her car along a railway track for nearly seven to eight kilometres, causing widespread panic and delays.
The incident occurred between Nagulapalli and Shankarpally in Rangareddy district, where the woman, later identified as Ravika Soni, a native of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, entered the railway track at a level crossing in Kondakal. Instead of crossing the gate, she turned the car onto the track, alarming passersby and railway staff.
Eyewitnesses said locals attempted to stop her at Nagulapalli, but she allegedly threatened them with a knife and sped away. A train heading on the same track was brought to a halt after the loco pilot applied the brakes, averting a potential disaster.
The woman drove on the track for about seven kilometres, triggering a disruption in railway traffic on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru route. Several trains, including two goods and two passenger services, were delayed — some for as long as two hours, according to railway sources.
Railway employees, with help from locals, eventually managed to stop the vehicle. When police personnel intervened, she tried to confront and resist them, forcing officers to overpower her. She was then taken into custody and sent for a medical examination.
Police revealed that Soni had previously worked as a software engineer in Hyderabad, but had recently lost her job and was reportedly suffering from depression. Authorities are also investigating whether she committed the act as part of an attempt to create social media reels. Her family has been informed, and a formal investigation is underway.
The Railway Police have launched a separate probe into the serious security breach, and a case will be registered. Officials noted that her actions could have resulted in a major tragedy and are treating the incident with utmost seriousness.
With PTI inputs