Sleeping gateman delays Vivek Express at Maynaguri; Suspended after 10-minute train halt

A serious lapse in railway safety occurred on Wednesday afternoon at the Maynaguri Road Bazar level crossing (NJ-5) when a gateman was found sleeping soundly in the switch room, leading to a Dibrugarh-Kanyakumari Down Vivek Express being delayed for approximately ten minutes. The train, which had arrived and was standing at the crossing with its gates open, was forced to wait as the gateman remained unresponsive despite prolonged honking from the driver. This alarming incident has sparked outrage among local residents and prompted swift action from railway authorities.

According to local residents present at the scene, the train driver continuously honked for nearly ten minutes, attempting to alert the gateman, but to no avail. It was only when another railway colleague of the sleeping gateman arrived that the individual was finally woken up, and the level crossing gate was subsequently closed, allowing the train to proceed. The situation escalated when the train's guard disembarked and confronted the gateman, leading to a heated argument in front of the switch room.

Following the incident, high-ranking railway officials immediately rushed to the Maynaguri Road station to assess the situation. Alipurduar Divisional Railway Manager, Amarjit Gautam, acknowledged the severe negligence on the part of the gateman. He confirmed that the gateman had been medically checked and subsequently removed from duty, signifying an immediate suspension.

Gautam further clarified that while the gateman's failure to close the gate was a critical error, the train had already come to a halt due to an automatic signaling system, which had turned the signal red. This automatic safety mechanism prevented a potentially more dangerous situation, emphasizing the importance of redundant safety systems in railway operations.

Railway sources identified the suspended gateman as Hirendranath Roy. It was also revealed that Roy had a background in the army and had been working as a contract-basis railway gateman for only about three months. This relatively short tenure raises questions about the training and oversight provided to contractual staff in critical safety roles.

Local resident Devdulal Vaidya recounted the startling experience, stating, "A car was driving on the road. Suddenly, there was the sound of a train. It was honking and passing by. When I went, I saw that the train was standing and people were crossing the railway tracks." His account highlights the immediate danger posed to commuters due to the open crossing and the train's unexpected halt, underscoring the severity of the gateman's dereliction of duty.