Indore: Did the loco pilot of a passenger train stop it midway to buy samosas from a nearby stall?
A video of the alleged incident has triggered a storm online, forcing Western Railway to issue a stern clarification, debunking the claims.
The video was reportedly filmed in the Rangwasa Road area of Rau near Indore. It was rapidly circulated with claims that the Indore-Mhow DEMU passenger train frequently stops for a few minutes at this particular spot.
In the video, a man is seen standing at a roadside shop next to the tracks purchasing snacks before walking back and boarding the locomotive, after which the train moves forward.
Railway authorities have rubbished the narrative, calling it false and misleading, The Times of India has reported.
Mukesh Kumar, the public relations officer for Western Railway’s Ratlam Division, has said that the video does not even feature a passenger train.
“The reality is that a Concor Greenfield Private Terminus goods train — operated by loco numbers 27237 and 27600 — was already stationary at the Rau yard home signal due to pre-scheduled engineering work,” Kumar said, adding that the train was not stopped under any circumstances for “food or any other personal work.”
He further clarified that the individual seen in the video was not the on-duty assistant loco pilot, but rather a “spare” assistant loco pilot traveling on the train.
“Since the goods train was already on an authorized operational halt, he stepped off to buy food. The actual working crew remained at their designated posts inside the engines, ensuring the train was fully secured and compliant with safety protocols at all times” Kumar said.
The clip was selectively edited and twisted to create confusion among the public, Western Railway emphasised. Reiterating that trains are strictly governed by rigid operational rules and safety standards, the administration clarified that no train is ever halted for personal convenience.
