Odisha schoolboys lie on railway track for viral reel, escape death by inches

In a shocking case of social media obsession gone dangerously wrong, three teenage boys from the Boudh district were detained by railway police on Saturday after filming a stunt reel on active railway tracks.

The video, which surfaced online, shows one of the boys lying motionless between two rails as a train passes over him while the other two record the scene from nearby.

Sources reported that the incident took place near Dalupali, close to the Purunapani railway station, where the minors accessed the tracks without supervision. According to police sources, all three are school students from the local area.

Reel Gone Wrong, Draws Railway Scrutiny

The stunt was reportedly performed late last week and later posted to social media platforms such as Instagram. The video soon caught the attention of concerned viewers and eventually reached the railway authorities.

Officials from the Balangir Railway Police acted swiftly, tracing the boys and bringing them in for questioning, added reports.

While no injuries were reported, officials confirmed that the act had serious legal and safety implications. The teenagers are currently being counselled, and their parents have been alerted. 

Police said legal action is being considered under relevant provisions of the Railways Act for trespassing and endangering life.

Dangerous Stunts Spark Concern

Officials emphasised that lying on railway tracks, regardless of timing or intent, constitutes a criminal offence. The incident not only endangered the boys' lives but also posed risks to train operations and on-duty personnel.

While no formal charges have been filed yet, authorities are treating the case as a warning sign amid the rising trend of social-media-driven risk-taking among adolescents.

Recent Incident Underscores Railway-Related Risks

This incident comes close on the heels of a far more tragic event in Nuapada district, where an elderly couple allegedly died by jumping in front of the Visakhapatnam–Durg Vande Bharat Express on Wednesday.

The tragedy occurred near the Kalyanpur level crossing, between Nuapada and Khariar Road stations, shortly after the couple had dinner at a relative’s home. Police later recovered the bodies and sent them for post-mortem.