A viral video on social media falsely claimed that a loco pilot stopped a train near Indore, Madhya Pradesh, to buy samosas from a trackside shop. The Western Railway on Wednesday termed the video as “misleading” and clarified that the train was stopped as part of an “authorised operational halt.”
What the Viral Video Shows
The video depicts a freight train halted near a snack shop adjacent to the railway tracks. A person in a railway uniform is seen collecting food items from the shop and then entering the loco pilot’s cabin. Social media users alleged that the train was deliberately stopped to purchase samosas.
Railway Investigation and Findings
Ratlam Railway Division Public Relations Officer Mukesh Kumar confirmed that the video was thoroughly investigated. “The video has been investigated. It was found in the probe that the freight train in question did not receive a signal (to proceed) due to ongoing engineering work on the track ahead. As a result, it was stopped at the home signal at Rau,” Kumar said.
The person seen in the video was not the on-duty assistant loco pilot but a reserve assistant loco pilot. He purchased food items during the authorised operational halt. The freight train was not left unattended; both the on-duty loco pilot and assistant loco pilot were present at their designated positions.
Official Statement Debunks Claims
“The claim that the loco pilot stopped the train to buy samosas is completely baseless and false,” Kumar asserted. He also clarified that the video was misrepresented as involving a DEMU passenger train, whereas it was a freight train. “Facts were distorted based on selected scenes from the video, creating confusion among the public and creating a false impression about the functioning of the Railways,” he added.
Legal Action Considered
Kumar stated that the railway authorities are considering legal action against those who circulated the video with the misleading claim. The incident highlights the need for fact-checking before sharing unverified content on social media.
