The incident occurred around 7.20pm on Thursday after train number 12003, travelling from Kanpur to New Delhi, crossed Makkhanpur station without a scheduled halt. The stone struck the glass window of the E-1 coach while the train was moving through Firozabad district in Uttar Pradesh. Bhagwat was travelling in the same coach but was seated on the opposite side and was not injured. No other passenger was hurt.
Railway and security officials halted the train near the outer area of Tundla Junction for inspection after the alarm was raised. Personnel from the Government Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force examined the damaged coach and assessed passenger safety before the train resumed its journey towards New Delhi at about 7.41pm.
Police said an investigation was under way to identify the person who threw the stone. One person was reported to have been detained for questioning as investigators examined whether the act was deliberate, random or linked to mischief along the railway line. Officials have not announced any evidence suggesting a targeted attack on Bhagwat, though the presence of a high-profile passenger has brought additional scrutiny to the episode.
The Swarn Shatabdi Express is among the prominent day trains running between Lucknow, Kanpur and New Delhi, using one of the country’s busiest rail corridors. The Firozabad-Tundla section lies on a heavily used route that carries premium passenger trains, long-distance express services and freight movement. Any obstruction or attack on moving trains on this stretch is treated as a serious safety issue because of the speed of services and the density of traffic.
The damaged window was in an executive class coach, where reinforced glass is intended to reduce the risk of injury from external impact. Officials said the breakage did not cause panic inside the train, and security staff moved quickly to verify Bhagwat’s safety. The RSS chief continued his journey after the inspection.
The episode has revived concern over stone-pelting on trains, a recurring problem across several rail zones despite surveillance drives and public warnings. Such incidents have targeted premium services including Vande Bharat, Shatabdi and other express trains, damaging windows and occasionally injuring passengers. Railway authorities have repeatedly warned that pelting stones at trains is a punishable offence that can lead to arrest, prosecution and recovery of damages.
Under railway law, endangering passenger safety or damaging railway property can attract criminal proceedings. Police teams generally rely on trackside patrols, local intelligence, CCTV footage from nearby stations, and questioning of residents close to vulnerable stretches to identify suspects. Proving intent can be difficult when stones are thrown from open areas near tracks, particularly at dusk or in poorly monitored locations.
The case has also drawn attention because Bhagwat has faced a similar scare earlier this year, when a train carrying him was struck by stones in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi district. In that incident, a windowpane was damaged but no injury was reported. Security agencies are expected to factor in past incidents while deciding whether additional precautions are needed during rail journeys involving senior public figures.
Railway protection units have intensified checks along sections considered prone to trespassing, stone-throwing and unauthorised movement near tracks. These measures include foot patrols, coordination with local police, warnings in nearby settlements and monitoring of groups of minors who are often found near rail lines. Officials have also urged residents to report suspicious activity close to tracks, particularly around curves, bridges and station approaches.
