Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
Loco Pilots (LPs) and Assistant Loco Pilots (ALPs) of the Indian Railways will carry out a ‘Mundi Garam’ demonstration on 15 May across the country to protest against the extreme heat conditions inside non-AC locomotive cabins during peak summer. The ‘Mundi Garam’ refers to the intense heat endured inside locomotive cabins.
The protest, organised by the All-India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), aims to draw attention to ‘inhuman working conditions that are severely affecting both health of loco running staff and safety of rail operations.
Indian Railways currently operates around 15,000 locomotives, but fewer than half are equipped with air-conditioning systems, and many of those units remain non-functional. “The situation is dire. Whenever we approach the maintenance department for repairs, we are told there is no budget available,” AILRSA president Ram Raj Bhagat pointed out.
AILRSA central president Ram Sharan said loco pilots are being compelled to operate trains under unbearable temperatures while repeated appeals to railway authorities have yielded little response. “During peak summer, when outside temperatures remain around 40-45°C, the heat inside locomotive cabins rises even further because of the engine and locomotive body. In many cases, it crosses 50°C. Driving a train under such conditions is extremely difficult for any normal person,” he said.
Prolonged exposure to extreme heat causes fatigue, dehydration, headaches, vomiting, exhaustion and loss of concentration among drivers. Such conditions pose not only serious health risks to health of loco pilots but also raises operational safety concerns during long-distance train journeys.
Medical experts have also expressed concern over the risks associated with prolonged exposure to excessive heat inside locomotive cabins. Non-insulated metal roofs inside locomotive cabins intensify heat exposure and could trigger serious medical conditions such as heatstroke, dehydration, rapid heartbeat and cognitive impairment. ”One of the most dangerous effects is heatstroke, where the body’s cooling mechanism starts failing. The situation becomes even more serious if a driver is suffering from diabetes or heart-related ailments,” a doctor said.
Another doctor warned that extreme heat exposure can also lead to electrolyte imbalance, dizziness, anxiety and reduced concentration among drivers.
Railway staff leaders said that despite rapid modernisation in several sectors of Indian Railways, the working conditions of frontline running staff continue to remain neglected. A senior loco pilot said that several drivers regularly suffer dehydration, stomach ailments and headaches while on duty, though many such cases never enter official records. ”It becomes a serious matter if a driver loses concentration or experiences anxiety while operating a train, as it can directly affect train operations and safety,” he said.