12-year-old lies on tracks as train speeds overhead in social media stunt

The incident happened on June 29 near Talupali village in Odisha's Boudh district, close to Purunapani station. Two of the boy's friends were also present and are now under investigation, NDTV reported.

Footage of the stunt, widely circulated before being removed, shows the boy motionless between the rails as the train roars overhead. "When the train passed by, my heart was racing. I didn't expect to survive," he reportedly said.

The viral clip has sparked outrage and concern across India, reigniting fears about the extreme lengths young people are willing to go for online fame.

Local police have detained the three minors, while the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has filed a case against two of them. The incident could have ended in tragedy, an RPF spokesperson said, The Times of India reported.

Officers have since visited the village to counsel the children and their families. Authorities say the rural area only recently got rail service and that many locals are unaware of railway safety laws and the deadly risks involved in such stunts.

In response, an awareness campaign has been launched to educate communities on train safety and the legal consequences of trespassing or dangerous behavior on the tracks.

The incident came just days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two new train routes in the region.

The 73-kilometer stretch between Sonepur and Purunakatak, part of the Khurda Road–Balangir line, was opened on June 20.