All-women crew takes charge of Ranchi-Irgaon passenger train in Jharkhand
Ranchi (PTI): An all-women crew operated a passenger train on the Ranchi-Irgaon route on the occasion of International Women's Day on Sunday, an official said.
The crew comprised the loco-pilot, assistant loco-pilot, train manager, ticket checkers and personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), she said.
"Today is a very special day for women and the Ranchi railway division. Keeping International Women's Day in mind, we have taken a special initiative of operating a passenger train by an all-women squad. Right from the loco-pilot to train ticket examiners and RPF personnel, all were women, on the train," South Eastern Railway CPRO Suchi Singh said.
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She said the train travelled to Irgaon station, which was also completely managed by women.
With rising awareness and lots of changes in society, women are now entering into the fields dominated by men earlier, such as the railway, and achieving success, she said.
In about one and a half hours' journey, the train, carrying hundreds of passengers, left the Ranchi station at 9.13 am and reached Irgaon around 10.40 am. It travelled 58 km with nine stoppages.
Ranchi chief ticket inspector (CTI) Masira Surin said they feel proud to celebrate the occasion by managing a train.
"The government is now encouraging women to come forward in every field of society," she said.
RPF sub-inspector Rita Kumari said days have changed, and now women can travel alone on a train safely.
"For their safety, RPF has employed women personnel, and this is our duty to provide them safety," she added.
Loco pilot Dipali Amrit said the role and importance of women in railways have increased manifold.
"When I joined the railway in 2007, I was alone. Gradually, women's interest in railways increased. Now, there are three loco pilots and about 10 assistant loco pilots in the Hatia division," she added.
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Sabarimala gold loss: How did the accused reach Rahul's home, asks Vijayan
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday hit back at Rahul Gandhi for targeting the ruling CPI(M) over the Sabarimala gold loss case during a poll campaign, questioning how the accused in the case had managed to reach the Congress leader's home.
The Marxist veteran was apparently referring to a widely circulated purported photograph in which the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold loss cases, Unnikrishnan Potty, accompanied by some senior Congress leaders, was seen with Sonia Gandhi at her residence in Delhi.
He also said people have already given a reply to Rahul, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on this matter.
The CM's reaction came a day after Rahul sang a line from a popular parody song about CPI(M) leaders' alleged roles in the gold theft at the Sabarimala temple while addressing a corner meeting as part of the assembly polls campaign in Pathanamthitta district.
As he sang the line "swarnam kattathu aarappa" (who stole the gold of Ayyappa) from a song used by the Congress-led UDF to target the ruling Left during the local body polls a few months ago, at the meeting in Pathanamthitta -- the district where the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa is located-- the crowd cheered Rahul.
Soon after Gandhi targeted the Left party over the gold loss issue, CPI (M) activists began a social media campaign making allegations against his mother and former party chief Sonia Gandhi in connection with the matter.
While replying to a question regarding this, CM Vijayan said the Congress leader already got a befitting reply and should he also repeat the same.
"If he thinks about how all those who were involved in the stealing had reached his home...then he will get a reply. Anyway, we don't have any such flaws," Vijayan added.
Attacking the Left and the BJP over the Sabarimala gold loss issue, Rahul Gandhi on Monday had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had forgotten about what happened in Sabarimala, during his visit to Palakkad as part of election campaign.
Rahul claimed that the prime minister remained silent to avoid damaging the LDF.
He had also said that a UDF government would ensure that those responsible for alleged irregularities related to the temple are punished.
