Boy in India detained after lying on tracks as train speeds by for viral social media clip
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In the video, the boy is seen lying between rails as a train speeds by.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM NDTV/YOUTUBE
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A boy and his two friends are being investigated after he was filmed lying on railway tracks as a train passed over him in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.
The life-threatening stunt took place near Talupali village, close to Purunapani station in Boudh district, on June 29.
In a video of the incident available on local news platforms, the boy, who is said to be 12 years old, is seen lying between the rails as a train speeds past him.
A second boy, aged 15, reportedly filmed the stunt while a third friend stood by.
As soon as the train passes and he emerges unharmed, the group is heard cheering and clapping. He is then seen posing for photographs.
The boy told the police that his friends came up with the idea and that he was hoping the clip would go viral, according to Indian news broadcaster NDTV.
“When the train passed by, my heart was racing. I did not expect to survive,” the boy was quoted as saying in the NDTV report.
The footage, which was uploaded to social media, had sparked concerns about the lengths young people would go to for viral content on social media.
The clip has since been removed from its original source, but several local news platforms have reproduced it.
Local police have detained the three boys, who were not named, and are questioning them, NDTV reported.
The Railway Protection Force has also registered a case against two of the three boys.
“This is an extremely dangerous act that could have resulted in fatality,” said its spokesman, according to news platform The Times of India on July 7.
The incident took place in a largely rural area where railway services were only recently introduced.
The spokesman said that officers have visited the village to counsel the minors and their families.
“Locals seem unaware of railway safety laws and the fatal consequences of such acts,” he added.
The authorities have also launched an awareness campaign to educate communities about the risks and legal consequences of such stunts.
The incident occurred just weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated new train services in the district.
Two trains were launched on June 20, connecting Boudh and Purunakatak stations following the completion of the 73km Sonepur-Purunakatak stretch of the Khurda Road-Balangir line.
