Loco pilots want action dropped against motorman
Railway staff associations are protesting disciplinary action against a motorman who prevented a potential train collision in Chennai. While the motorman is credited with averting disaster, an internal committee found him blameworthy for not following specific rules despite systemic signal failures.
Why it matters
The case raises questions about safety protocols, system reliability, and the accountability of frontline workers in the face of technical failures.
Locopilots have urged Southern Railway to drop action against the motorman of an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU), who flagged a major signal failure and averted a disaster in Chennai Division on March 5.
The case relates to an incident reported between Ambattur and Avadi stations, when Automatic Signal S192 displayed a ‘Double Yellow’ aspect, authorising an approaching EMU to proceed even though the line was occupied by two other trains.
After spotting the trains stationed on the same track, motorman K. Karunakaran halted the EMU just short of the signal, preventing what could have been a major accident. He photographed the scene on his mobile phone and alerted higher authorities.
A multi-departmental committee, comprising senior railway officers, that probed the safety lapse held the local technician responsible for the signal failure. The committee also holds Mr. Karunakaran “blameworthy” for not following the rules.
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