Train fall death of Assam student in Andhra Pradesh investigated as police deny sexual assault claims

Student Death Case

Andhra Pradesh police state that the post-mortem report confirms no physical or sexual violence in the tragic death of 20-year-old Assam student Himashree Boro, whose body was found on October 7 near the railway track close to Penubarthi village in Srikakulam district. She had boarded the Vivek Express on the night of October 5 or 6 to return home to Guwahati after attending a dance program in Visakhapatnam, having travelled on an unreserved ticket in sleeper coach S-2 due to a lack of confirmed reservation. Police have dismissed social media claims that she called to report being harassed by specific boys, though she did send a video and message to a friend stating she felt uneasy as the coach was very crowded with male passengers, and her family stated she made a midnight phone call saying men were drinking alcohol and she felt scared. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has written letters to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu demanding a full investigation into her death.

Other Incidents

In Kochi, a speeding car near Nedumbassery airport at around 2 am on Sunday hit a two-wheeler, killing three people who were returning home after drinking tea at a nearby shop. The victims are Gopika from Palakkad, Devika from Wayanad, and Ijaz from Karnataka, while the driver Suhail has been taken into custody for a medical check-up and faces a case of attempted culpable homicide. In Ahmedabad, a 9-year-old girl fell into an open 20-foot-deep drain on Narol-Pirana Road on Saturday, and rescue teams including police and fire brigade have been searching for about 7 hours without success, with fire station officer Pravin Singh Solanki noting that BSF troops and manhole checks will now be utilized. In Mumbai, a Kia car struck two people on Shastri Nagar Road Number 2 in Andheri, injuring a woman walking on the roadside and a two-wheeler rider, with Amboli police detaining driver Rahul Shrideviprasad Dubey and taking his blood samples.

Context

Train travel safety and crowd management on long-distance routes remain critical public concerns in India, particularly regarding unreserved passengers entering sleeper coaches. Emergency helplines such as number 139 serve as vital lifelines for passengers reporting distress, though prompt coordination between railway authorities across state lines poses significant logistical challenges during moving journeys.