Indian Railways: Shatabdi Express goes ahead by breaking signal, loco pilot suspended
By: Jeet Ghosh
Last Update: 2021-02-09 22:32:53 IST
On February 3, the Shatabdi Express coming from New Delhi to Bhopal was red with a home signal (the signal before reaching the platform) 500 meters away from Bhopal station. It was a signal to stop the train but the train did not stop there and reached platform one of Bhopal station.
Loco pilot Sanjay Khare has been suspended in connection with the Shatabdi Express breaking signals. A departmental inquiry into the incident has also been started. The negligence of the signaling and operating staff of the railway along with the loco pilot in this case is also coming to light. On February 3, the Shatabdi Express coming from New Delhi to Bhopal was red with a home signal (the signal before reaching the platform) 500 meters away from Bhopal station.
It was a signal to stop the train, but the train did not stop there and reached platform one of Bhopal station. At that time the speed of the train was 15 to 20 kilometers per hour. The Gorakhpur-LTT Special Express stood on this platform for a few minutes before Shatabdi entered. The incident has been confirmed by DRM Udaya Borwankar.
Level three negligence
1. When the platform was not a clear, Shatabdi was not to be allowed to approach the home signal, which was yellowed by the signal department from the signal falling east of the home signal.
2. When the home signal was red the loco pilot was not to move the train at all. The loco pilot did not take note of it and pushed the train forward.
3. Despite the mistake on two levels, when the train was crossing the red signal, the operating staff working round the clock at the station was activated, but the train was not done.
Rules are to be removed from job after crossing red signal
In the railway, the incidents of crossing the red signal of the train are treated like an accident. This is because the red signal is the only mark before which the train has to be stopped under any circumstances. The red signal is an indication of whether the train is standing in front or if the track or track is broken. Even if the trackman shows a red flag in front, trains have to be stopped. There are rules to remove the loco pilot from the railway personnel responsible for such incidents.
Priyanka Dixit, the chief spokesperson of the Western Central Railway Jabalpur zone said, "The incident is being investigated. A detailed report is yet to come. At whatever level the fault is found, action will be taken from the railway side."
