A recent investigation into a goods train collision in Punjab has uncovered that both the loco pilot and his assistant fell asleep at the wheel, failing to stop at a red signal, according to a railway official. The incident took place on June 2 around 3:15 am between Sirhind junction and Sadhoogarh railway station in Punjab. The engine of UP GVGN derailed and fell sideways onto the main passenger line, as per a probe report obtained by PTI.
At the same time, the Jammu Tawi Summer Special, on the adjacent line, collided with the freight train's engine lying close to the track. The impact caused the Jammu Tawi's engine to derail.
The probe report highlights that hundreds of passengers had a narrow escape, as the Jammu Tawi was moving at a slower speed of 46 kilometers per hour due to an approaching single yellow signal. In railway signaling, a single yellow indicates caution, prompting loco pilots to reduce speed in preparation for a potential red signal ahead.
Both the loco pilot and assistant of UP GVGN were trapped inside the toppled engine, requiring railway employees to break the windshield to rescue them. Both were hospitalized with injuries, but fortunately, no passengers were hurt.
Although the probe team was unable to take statements from the drivers due to their injuries, the train manager of UP GVGN provided a written statement. According to him, the drivers confessed to having fallen asleep while driving.
"If the loco pilot and assistant had rested adequately before duty and remained alert, this incident could have been avoided," the train manager stated in his report to the probe team.
The loco pilot's union, the Indian Railway Loco Runningmen Organisation (IRLRO), blamed the Railways for overworking train drivers due to staff shortages.
"These incidents are inevitable if the Railways forces drivers to work excessive night shifts, contrary to regulations," said Sanjay Pandhi, the working president of IRLRO.
Pandhi accused railway officials of manipulating the working hours data of train drivers to extend their shifts without proper rest.
"According to norms, railway drivers are supposed to work for nine hours, extendable to 11 hours. However, we have observed cases where drivers work for more than 15 to 16 hours, with only two hours of fake rest shown in the roster," Pandhi added.
"The actual duty hours performed by these crews are much longer than what's officially recorded, leading to fatigue and, ultimately, incidents like these," he concluded.
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