A 20‑year‑old college student from Assam vanished during an overnight train journey on October 6, after alerting family that she felt threatened by intoxicated men in the carriage. Her body was discovered later that week near railway tracks in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, sparking accusations of negligence against railway security forces and a demand for a comprehensive investigation.
Journey, distress call and loss of contact
Himashri Boro, a resident of Bonda in Assam’s Kamrup Metropolitan district, had traveled to Visakhapatnam with a dance troupe to take part in a competition. She returned alone on the night of October 5, as she needed to sit for an examination in Guwahati. According to her family, Boro boarded Train No. 22503 at Visakhapatnam around 12:15 a.m. on October 6, accompanied to the station by a local acquaintance identified by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) as Avinash.
CCTV footage captured Boro entering the train’s S‑2 coach with a general ticket. Shortly after boarding, she placed a call to her sister‑in‑law and another friend, describing an uncomfortable atmosphere inside the coach. She said the compartment was filled with men who were drunk, making her feel unsafe. The sister‑in‑law later recounted Boro’s words: “After getting on the train, she called me and another friend of hers, and told us that she was feeling uncomfortable in the coach. There were inebriated men all around, making her feel unsafe.”
During the same call, Boro sent a short video of the carriage to a friend, visually confirming the conditions she described. The family lost contact with her between 2:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., after which they reported the incident to the railway helpline. Railway officials informed the family that Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel would check on her.
Search efforts, recovery of the body and investigation
The NFR confirmed that a complaint had been lodged through the Rail Madad portal on October 6, alleging misbehaviour towards a woman passenger. An RPF assistant sub‑inspector, along with other staff, responded to the complaint at Srikakulam Road station. They inspected both general and sleeper coaches but were unable to locate Boro. The family later said they received no confirmation that she had been found safe.
Subsequent investigations led RPF officers to discover Boro’s body between the Ponduru and Dusi railway sections in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district. Her two bags were recovered intact inside the coach, according to her sister‑in‑law, who emphasized the need for a thorough probe. The Government Railway Police (GRP) transferred the remains to Government RIMS Hospital in Srikakulam for an inquest and autopsy. The exact circumstances of her death remain under investigation.
Authorities are recording statements from passengers who were on the train, as well as from the individual who accompanied Boro to the Visakhapatnam station. CCTV footage from Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam is also being reviewed. Both the RPF and GRP are coordinating with police forces in Assam and Andhra Pradesh as the probe continues.
Himashri Boro’s family has publicly alleged murder and accused the RPF of negligence, demanding a detailed inquiry into how the incident unfolded. The preliminary probe by the GRP in Palasa suggested a possible scenario in which Boro might have fallen from a moving train, but this finding has not been confirmed.
Dimoria MLA Tapan Das announced that the Assam government would assist in repatriating Boro’s body. He noted that an autopsy would be conducted in Andhra Pradesh, after which arrangements for a flight—since no direct flights to Guwahati exist—would be made. Das added that the government was working to ensure the body could be returned without requiring a family member to travel for claim procedures.
The case has reignited public discussion about passenger safety on Indian railways, especially for women traveling alone. While the railway authorities have stated that the matter is under inquiry, families and advocacy groups continue to call for stronger security measures and faster response protocols when passengers report threats.
As the investigation proceeds, officials have yet to establish a definitive sequence of events leading to Boro’s death. The ongoing forensic analysis and witness testimonies are expected to shape the final conclusions and any subsequent legal actions.
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