Loco pilots under the Southern Railway and railway authorities have locked horns after a senior assistant loco pilot collapsed at the Nagercoil railway junction and died on the way to hospital in the wee hours of Thursday. The loco pilots under the Southern Railway had been protesting against the divisional authorities seeking implementation of railway safety committee recommendations to provide regular weekly-off, and a reduction of duty time to eight hours for operating goods trains and six hours for operating passenger trains from the present 12-hour duty schedule along with other demands.
The All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) in a statement alleged that the body of the victim in the latest incident, identified as M. Pradeep, 45, a native of Kollam, was not even placed in front of the railway divisional office in Thiruvananthapuram for colleagues to pay their last respects. The Railway has denied permission for this, fearing that the issue will further exacerbate the tension between loco pilots and railway authorities. It was an unfortunate incident, and authorities should have avoided such an act, said the association.
The railway authorities kept the loco pilot fraternity away from their families as much as possible without giving them any leave or rest as part of implementing inhumane crew links. And now, when one died, they even denied a formal farewell for the departed soul, fearing that the outside world would not know the issue, the association accused.
On the other hand, the Southern Railway brushed aside their charges, saying the 45-year-old passed away reportedly due to cardiac arrest at Nagercoil Junction Railway Station. He was not subjected to any stressful schedule of duty. On 5 March, he had performed four hours of duty from Kollam Junction to Nagercoil Junction. He took a 36-hour rest before joining duty at his headquarters in Kollam and a 11-hour rest at Nagercoil Junction. During the recent fortnight, he has performed 57 hours of duty in a 15-day period.
The mortal remains of the employee are being taken to his residence at Chandanathoppu, Kollam, accompanied by a Welfare Inspector. Necessary arrangements, including funeral advance and transport, have been made by the railway to support the bereaved family. He is survived by his wife and two young children, aged 6 years and 2.5 months. Extending heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, the railway assured full support to them during this difficult time. He died after the duty on the Vivek Express, which runs from Dibrugarh in Assam to Kanyakumari.
Published – March 06, 2025 09:17 pm IST