According to a report from news agency PTI on Thursday, the Northern Railways has taken action by removing from service the driver of the goods train that autonomously traversed approximately 84 kilometers from Jammu's Kathua to Punjab's Ucchi Bassi.
Allegedly, the engine remained operational while the driver and his co-driver paused for a crew change at Kathua station. Sources cited by India Today indicated that the driver neglected to engage the hand brake before disembarking.
As outlined in a notice issued by the senior divisional mechanical engineer (DME), who serves as the disciplinary authority in this matter, the loco pilot, Sandeep Kumar, was found to have "failed to fulfill his duties" and adhere to the safety protocols stipulated by railway standards.
The notice further highlighted that Sandeep Kumar opted for a shortcut and disregarded proper engine stabling procedures despite receiving repeated guidance from chief loco inspectors (CLIs) and officers. His "negligence" was emphasized as it could have led to a "major incident" resulting in potential loss of lives.
Additionally, the notice emphasized that the incident tarnished the safety reputation of the Indian Railway system overall, with particular repercussions for the Northern Railway division.
The unsupervised movement of the train caused disruptions to traffic along the main line section of JRC-JAT (Jalandhar Cantt-Jammu Tawi), leading to significant delays for approximately 8 up and 4 down trains.
Following the incident, the Northern Railways promptly suspended six individuals, including the driver, as part of their immediate response measures.
