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New Delhi, Nov 4 (IANS) Congress MP KC Venugopal has written to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, urging her to take immediate steps to strengthen safety measures for women passengers in trains following a shocking incident in Kerala, where a 19-year-old woman was allegedly pushed from a moving train.
Addressing
In his letter dated November 2, Venugopal highlighted the “growing threats to women’s safety” in the railways, which he described as a “lifeline for millions of people”.
Referring to the attack, she said that the incident on Kerala Express (train no. 12626) has once again “highlighted the serious vulnerabilities faced by women passengers”, and sought immediate intervention from the government.
According to Venugopal, the incident took place near Varkala railway station on November 2, when a young woman from Thiruvananthapuram was allegedly pushed from a moving train by a man under the influence of alcohol. The accused also tried to push the victim’s friend, who narrowly escaped serious injury by falling back into the coach.
“The victim, who was unconscious due to severe internal injuries and heavy bleeding, was taken to Sree Narayana Mission Hospital and later shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital in a critical condition,” the letter said.
Venugopal said the “unprovoked act of violence” “underscores the disturbing pattern of impunity that continues to put women in danger”.
The senior Congress leader further said that this is not an isolated case.
Citing a similar incident in February 2025, he said a 36-year-old pregnant woman was pushed from a moving train near Katpadi in Tamil Nadu during an attempt to sexually assault her.
Citing official data showing a huge increase in safety complaints, he said: “Comprehensive data reveals a worrying increase in safety concerns – complaints related to passenger safety in trains increased by 64 per cent, from 4.57 lakh in 2023-24 to over 7.50 lakh in 2024-25.
He said that incidents of harassment and violence against women have also seen a steady increase in moving trains and stations.
“These repeated violations – ranging from physical attacks to molestation – paint a grim picture of systemic failures in enforcement and infrastructure that are eroding public confidence in the Indian Railways,” Venugopal wrote.
Calling for immediate and decisive action, he urged the Railway Minister to increase security presence onboard, strengthen surveillance and strictly enforce the use of only women coaches. He also suggested a comprehensive audit and regular reporting mechanism to monitor the implementation of security measures.
“Keeping in mind the seriousness of the issue, I urge you to reaffirm the Railways’ commitment towards safety and prevent a repeat of such horrors,” Venugopal said in his message.
The Kerala MP stressed that the safety of women passengers should be treated as a “non-negotiable priority” and called for an accountability mechanism to address the rising crimes against women in trains.
The letter comes amid growing public outrage over the Varkala train incident, which has rekindled concerns over the safety of women in public transport systems.
–IANS
PGH/UK