Loco Pilot's Desperate Act to Prove Medical Condition Shocks Railway Officials
A shocking incident unfolded at the Lucknow division of Northern Railway when a 37-year-old loco pilot, in a desperate bid to prove his medical condition, removed his trousers before a senior official. The employee, who had recently undergone surgery for piles, took this extreme step after the official repeatedly demanded proof of his illness for the extension of his sick leave.
The Incident That Went Viral
The confrontation occurred on the morning of March 2 at Lucknow's Charbagh railway station and was captured on a smartphone. The video quickly went viral on social media platforms, triggering widespread reactions within railway circles and among the public. The visual documentation of the event led to immediate consequences for the loco pilot, though temporary in nature.
Medical History and Leave Extension Request
The loco pilot, who works as a shunter, underwent surgical procedure for piles on February 22. Following the operation, he was granted medical leave until February 28. However, his surgical wounds had not fully healed by the end of this period, necessitating an extension of his recovery time.
After consulting with a railway doctor, who advised him to obtain a mandatory 'sick memo' from the office, the employee approached the concerned official. According to the loco pilot's account, despite presenting all necessary medical documents, the official declined to issue the memo and allegedly insisted that he resume his duties immediately.
The Desperate Demonstration
"Despite showing medical documents, the sick memo was not issued. I was repeatedly asked for proof. In desperation, I pulled down my trousers to show my surgical wound so that he could understand the seriousness of my condition," the railway staff member told reporters. He emphasized that this was not an isolated incident of being asked to provide excessive proof during medical or emergency situations.
The employee cited a previous instance when he was allegedly asked to produce evidence of a relative's hospitalization when requesting leave for that family emergency. This pattern of demanding physical proof for medical conditions apparently culminated in the dramatic March 2 demonstration.
Immediate Aftermath and Union Intervention
Following the incident, representatives from the loco-pilot union intervened on behalf of their colleague. Their advocacy resulted in the employee finally being granted the requested leave extension. However, the resolution was short-lived as the situation escalated further when the video footage surfaced on social media platforms on March 3.
Suspension and Quick Reversal
The official involved allegedly accused the loco pilot of creating an obscene scene inside the office premises and engaging in misbehavior. Based on this complaint, the railway administration suspended the employee on March 3. The suspension, however, was remarkably brief and was revoked the very next day on March 4, suggesting reconsideration of the circumstances that led to the extreme action.
This incident has sparked discussions about workplace protocols, the treatment of employees during medical recoveries, and the boundaries of what constitutes reasonable proof for sick leave extensions within government organizations. The viral nature of the video has brought unprecedented attention to what might otherwise have remained an internal railway matter.
