Overview
- Mahendra Bhardwaj, media advisor to former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, reported being trapped for about 58 minutes in a train toilet on January 30.
- He was traveling from Kota toward Jaipur and became stuck near Sawai Madhopur after the internal latch failed, according to his Facebook account.
- Railway personnel ultimately forced the door open with hammers, and Bhardwaj said he suffered minor injuries to his hand during the rescue.
- He described calling his cousin and son and trying the railway helpline as he struggled with suffocation and distress in the cramped compartment.
- A video of the rescue circulated widely online, drawing reactions that questioned rail maintenance and emergency access, while Bhardwaj urged carrying a phone in toilets and upgrading older coaches.