Safety Crisis on Tracks: Railway Union to Strike Over Maintainer Deaths

A severe safety crisis is unfolding on the South Eastern Railway, where track maintainers continue to lose their lives at an alarming rate. The recent deaths of two track maintainers in the Ranchi and Kharagpur divisions have ignited fury within the All India Railway Track Maintainer Union, adding to the nine fatalities recorded over the past six months. The union asserts that safety infrastructure has seen no meaningful enhancement. National President Chand Mohammad has launched a scathing critique of the railway management, accusing them of willful neglect and indifference to the perilous working conditions faced by track maintainers. He has issued a stark ultimatum: failure to implement immediate and effective safety measures will result in widespread industrial action, starting with a demonstration at the South Eastern Railway’s zonal office. Mohammad powerfully stated, ‘We risk our lives daily for the railways, yet our safety is not a priority.’ The latest victims include Bipptarani Mahato, a track maintainer in the Ranchi division, who lost her life during a night patrol when hit by train 18615. In a similar tragedy, Manjurul Haider from the Kharagpur division died after being struck by the Hijli-Kharagpur MEMU (68048) during early morning cold weather patrolling. Track workers attribute the rising number of accidents to the unchanged demands of patrols during hazardous conditions like fog and cold weather. They are collectively demanding updated safety gear, better communication technology, and revised patrolling protocols. The persistent fatalities have brought the issue to a critical juncture, with the union prepared for sustained protest to secure the safety of its members.