Kannur, Dec 25 (NationPress) An audacious attempt to film a social media reel led to a temporary disruption of train services in Kannur early Thursday morning, as a red signal was intentionally displayed to halt a moving passenger train.

This incident has raised significant safety alarms, with railway officials labeling it a serious infraction that could have resulted in a catastrophic accident.

The event took place in the early hours between Thalassery and Mahe, when the Ernakulam–Pune Okha Express was compelled to stop due to the unauthorized red light shown on the tracks.

Authorities reported that the signal was not sanctioned and was merely used to bring the train to a halt for the purpose of recording a video for social media. The Kannur Railway Police have filed charges against two Class 12 students involved in the incident.

While two individuals were detained and later released on bail, a third person who was allegedly present at the scene managed to escape.

Law enforcement has initiated a manhunt to locate him and is investigating whether additional individuals played a role in orchestrating the event.

Initial investigations indicate that the students trespassed onto the railway tracks during the early morning hours, taking advantage of low visibility and limited supervision.

Investigators noted that the red signal was displayed in a way that forced the train driver to halt the express, adhering to standard safety protocols.

After a brief delay to confirm safety, the train continued its journey.

Railway officials have condemned this act as “extremely dangerous” and cautioned that unauthorized interference with train operations presents a significant risk to passenger safety.

Senior officials emphasized that even a momentary lapse in judgment could lead to derailments or collisions, particularly on busy routes.

The case has been filed under the provisions of the Railways Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that address public safety risks and the obstruction of public transport operations.

Authorities indicated that stringent measures would be taken to deter similar occurrences, amid a rising trend of young individuals engaging in dangerous stunts for online fame.

This incident has reignited calls for enhanced awareness initiatives and stricter enforcement to prevent hazardous behaviors associated with social media content creation, especially near critical public infrastructure such as railways.