Letter of the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), Solapur Division to railway administration
Shri Sagar Sanjay Raut, an Assistant Loco Pilot working in the Solapur Division of Central Railway, died by suicide on 14 September 2026. Immediately following this incident, all loco pilots across the division expressed their sympathy and paid tribute to their colleague’s untimely death and extended financial assistance to his family. Alongside this, under the leadership of the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), Solapur Division, a signature campaign was launched demanding an impartial, high-level inquiry into his death, ensuring accountability for his alleged mental harassment, and taking appropriate action (see the letter below).
On behalf of the Kamgar Ekta Committee, we express deep sorrow over the untimely demise of Shri Raut. We also strongly support the demand for a high-level inquiry made by AILRSA, Solapur Division.
As stated in the letter, it appears that Shri Raut had been under severe mental stress for the past few days and was allegedly facing continuous pressure and harassment at the administrative level. Nearly all railway employees—particularly loco pilots, motormen, guards, station masters, track maintainers, S&T staff, pointsmen, and others—are forced to face the inhumane burden of excessive workload and administrative pressure every single day. This causes increasing mental stress, leading many to suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease at a very young age. Massive vacancies across positions remain the root cause of this crisis.
In this context, all railway employees should unite in supporting the demands raised by the Solapur Division of AILRSA following Shri Raut’s tragic death.
(Translation of Hindi letter)
All India Loco Running Staff Association
Solapur Division, Central Railway
AILRSA/DRM/SUR/SSR-CASE/09/2026
Date: 15.09.2026
To,
Respected Divisional Railway Manager,
Solapur Division, Central Railway
Subject: Regarding an impartial and high-level inquiry into the death by suicide of Assistant Loco Pilot Shri SAGAR SANJAY RAUT (ID-SUR1998), Solapur Branch, on 14.09.2026, establishing responsibility for alleged mental harassment, and taking appropriate action.
Sir,
We, the undersigned Loco Running Staff of Solapur Division, with deep grief, agony, and serious concern, wish to draw your attention to the extremely grave and tragic death of Assistant Loco Pilot Shri SAGAR SANJAY RAUT (ID-SUR1998), Solapur Branch, who died by suicide on 14.09.2026.
This incident is not merely the untimely death of an employee but an event that has generated a serious sense of fear and insecurity among the entire loco running staff and their families regarding safety, workplace environment, and administrative conduct.
Neither our organization nor the undersigned employees are in favor of holding any individual guilty without an inquiry. However, under the present circumstances, the serious allegations and apprehensions arising among the employees make it imperative to conduct an impartial, independent, and transparent inquiry.
1. Impartial inquiry into alleged mental harassment is essential
According to information received from employees and the discussions prevailing among them, Shri SAGAR SANJAY RAUT was under mental stress and depression for the past few days and was allegedly facing continuous pressure and harassment at the administrative level.
Specifically, there are serious grievances and concerns among the employees regarding repeated summons to the office, work-related pressure, threatening behavior, and alleged threats of dismissal from service by the Sr. DEE/TR/SUR and concerned officials.
The truth or falsehood of these allegations can only be determined through an impartial inquiry. Therefore, ignoring these serious facts without an investigation would not be appropriate.
2. Lessons must also be learned from the previous tragic incident
It is also a matter of grave concern that earlier, in the case of the death of Assistant Loco Pilot Shri Rajat Choudhary, employees had raised serious questions regarding the railway hospital and administrative systems.
If necessary institutional reforms and preventive mechanisms had been developed following that previous incident, the recurrence of such circumstances might have been prevented.
The loss of another young running staff member’s life today indicates that an effective mechanism is urgently needed to monitor workplace mental stress, administrative pressure, grievance redressal, and the conduct of officials toward employees.
3. Treatment of employees who comply with rules
Loco running staff perform extremely sensitive and safety-critical duties. Such employees are expected to strictly adhere to Railway Rules, HOER, and safety provisions.
However, complaints are continuously surfacing among employees that those who work according to the rules or object to rule violations are subjected to mental pressure by being repeatedly summoned to the office and allegedly threatened with termination of employment or severe action.
If such complaints are found to be true, it is not only a matter of employee welfare but also a grave concern for safe train operation. How running staff working under fear and mental stress can maintain the mental well-being and confidence necessary for safe train operation is itself a serious question.
4. Inquiry must be independent and free from influence
Our primary demand is that this incident be investigated by a committee/officer independent of the direct administrative influence of the officials involved in the incident.
The inquiry should specifically include the following points:
- Verification of Shri SAGAR SANJAY RAUT’s duty records, call records/official communication, office attendance, and interactions with concerned officials in the days preceding his death.
- Examination of his summons to the office and the alleged treatment meted out to him.
- Recording the statements of his colleagues, family members, and staff who worked closely with him.
- Establishing accountability if any official subjected him to threats, pressure, derogatory behavior, or improper administrative action.
- Examination of prior complaints/representations submitted by employees regarding related matters.
- Immediate preservation of available CCTV footage, official records, and other electronic/digital evidence related to the incident so that crucial evidence is not destroyed or altered.
- Appropriate disciplinary/administrative action in accordance with Railway Rules against any official/employee whose direct or indirect involvement is revealed by the inquiry.
5. Immediate steps to eliminate fear among employees
We also demand that the administration take the following measures to eliminate the fear and sense of insecurity prevailing among the running staff:
- Establish an independent and effective Grievance Redressal Mechanism for employee grievances.
- Monitor the conduct of officials toward employees.
- Ensure that no employee is harassed merely for following rules or raising safety concerns.
- Provide confidential counseling/support mechanisms for mental stress and workplace-related issues.
- Hold regular meetings with running staff representatives to resolve their genuine problems.
6. Our clear demands
Therefore, all of us, the undersigned loco running staff, demand the following from the administration:
- An impartial, independent, and high-level inquiry into the death of Shri SAGAR SANJAY RAUT (ID-SUR1998) be initiated immediately.
- An impartial probe into the role and alleged administrative conduct of all concerned officials, including Sr. DEE/TR/SUR, be conducted as part of the inquiry.
- Immediate preservation of all documentary, electronic, and other evidence related to the incident.
- Impartial recording of statements from colleagues and family members of the deceased employee, and incorporating any evidence provided by them into the inquiry.
- Strict and appropriate action under Railway Rules and clear establishing of responsibility against any official/employee if mental harassment, threats, undue pressure, misuse of authority, or any other misconduct is substantiated.
- A review of past incidents and related complaints raised by employees to ascertain which preventive measures failed at the administrative level.
- Immediate implementation of effective grievance redressal, counseling, and protection mechanisms for running staff to prevent recurrence of such tragic incidents in the future.
- Sharing the findings of the inquiry and the actions taken with employee representatives upon completion of the probe to restore confidence among employees.
Sir,
Expressing condolences after the death of an employee is not enough. What is needed is to uncover the real causes behind the incident, establish responsibility if there has been administrative failure or misconduct at any level, and establish a framework that ensures no employee faces such extreme circumstances in the future.
We hope the administration treats this serious matter as one concerning employee welfare, human dignity, and safe rail operation and takes immediate necessary action.
Yours faithfully,
All Undersigned Loco Running Staff
Solapur Division, Central Railway
Date: 14.09.2026
Place: Solapur
Enclosure:
List of undersigned employees.