Rahul Gandhi Blames Railway Negligence for Worker Death

Rahul Gandhi Blames Railway Negligence for Worker Death
  • Railway worker died during shunting operation.
  • Rahul Gandhi blames negligence for the death.
  • Investigation launched into the tragic incident.

The tragic death of Amar Kumar Raut, a railway worker crushed during a shunting operation at Barauni Junction, has sparked a national conversation about safety and negligence within the Indian Railways. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, drew attention after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, condemned the incident and pointed fingers at the government's priorities.

Gandhi, in a poignant message shared on his official X account, accompanied by a photograph of Raut, called the accident “horrific” and attributed it to the Indian Railways’ longstanding negligence, lack of staffing, and poor safety measures. He further commented, “When will the common people be safe, Modiji? You are just engaged in making ‘one' Adani safe,” directly criticizing the government's focus on the business tycoon, Adani.

The details of the accident paint a grim picture of the potentially fatal consequences of miscommunication and inadequate safety measures. Raut, a 35-year-old man who was to be married on December 11, was detaching the engine from the Lucknow-Barauni Express on platform 5 when the incident occurred. Due to a communication failure, the engine unexpectedly moved backward, crushing Raut between the engine and the parcel van. The buffer device, designed to protect workers from such incidents, failed to function due to the miscommunication.

The tragedy has raised questions about the railway's safety protocols and the consequences of staffing shortages. Eyewitnesses reported that the shunting engine driver fled the scene after the accident, abandoning the engine. A preliminary report by five railway officials attributed the incident to a miscommunication between Raut and another railway worker, Mohd Suleman. However, Suleman denied any responsibility and instead blamed the driver.

Following the incident, Sonepur divisional railway manager Vivek Bhushan Sood has called for a high-level investigation to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding Raut's death. East Central Railway general manager Chhatrasal Singh has also ordered an independent inquiry. The investigation will likely focus on the communication breakdown, the functionality of the safety equipment, and the potential role of staffing shortages in the accident.

The incident has highlighted the need for a thorough assessment of safety practices and procedures within the Indian Railways. It serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing the safety of workers and ensuring adequate staffing levels to prevent such tragedies in the future. The investigation into the incident is expected to shed light on the systemic issues that contributed to Raut's death and hopefully lead to much-needed reforms to improve safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Source: Rahul Gandhi Condemns Railway Worker Death: Calls Out Government Negligence

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