Overview
- Railway SP Yathish N said early review of the train’s CCTV indicates the two students appeared to act intentionally, though no motive has been established.
- The deceased were identified as Sterlin Eliza Shaji, 19, and Justin Joseph, 20, first-year BSc Nursing students from Kerala studying at Sapthagiri College.
- The pair was struck around 2:35 pm on Nov. 23 near Chikkabanavara by the Bengaluru–Belagavi Vande Bharat Express, which officials said was moving at high speed after leaving the station.
- An Unnatural Death Report has been registered at the Bengaluru Rural Railway Police Station, and railway authorities have begun an internal inquiry.
- No suicide note has been found and phones recovered at the scene were damaged, with investigators gathering information from the college and acquaintances.