Five athletes from India, including three pole vaulters and two heptathletes, were making their way back to Salem from Bhubaneswar after participating in the Indian Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault Competition. The first twelve hours of their 22-hour journey were uneventful, but by the end, their situation had drastically changed. Two members of the group were on a different train, three were stranded at a railway station in Andhra Pradesh, and all of them witnessed their poles fall from a moving train.

Due to a high demand for reservations, the athletes were traveling in two seats and had eight poles, each valued at over a lakh of rupees. To accommodate these, they secured the poles to the window of their reserved sleeper coach, as there was not enough space inside. Typically, athletes place their poles on ceiling fans in the compartment, but the crowded conditions left them with no choice. Other passengers had consented to the arrangement, and the journey proceeded smoothly, with only a few inquisitive travelers asking questions.

However, complications arose at Rajahmundry station in Andhra Pradesh. A complaint from another passenger prompted Railway Police Force officials to cut the ropes that held the poles. As the train started to leave the station, the poles began to slide off the window and onto the tracks.

Kavinraja, the reigning U20 Federation Cup champion and one of the pole vaulters, reacted instinctively. “I only thought about preserving the poles,” he recounted. He jumped from the moving train, followed by two other athletes. Meanwhile, another athlete inside the compartment activated the emergency chain, allowing them to retrieve their equipment before it could be damaged.

“When we departed from Bhubaneswar, there were no issues. We spoke with the other passenger and secured the poles to the window since they were agreeable. Normally, we would keep them on the fans, but the coach was too crowded, so we opted for the window,” Kavin explained. “Each pole costs over a lakh and replacing them is difficult for us.”

The situation became even more complicated when RPF personnel and railway officials began questioning the athletes. After they provided the necessary information, Kavin, Vishal, and Sakthi were instructed to accompany officials to the railway police station on the platform. They requested to access their luggage, which remained on the train, but this request was denied. The train departed for Salem with their bags and two teammates still on board.