A level crossing in Hooghly was closed late while a local train was approaching on 15 September, prompting Eastern Railway to acknowledge lapses in staff coordination even as it rejected claims that the gateman was asleep or that the train crossed an open gate.
The incident occurred at interlocked level crossing gate number 7/C/E on the Guptipara–Jirat section of the Katwa line. According to Eastern Railway chief public relations officer Shibram Majhi, the gate remained open to road traffic as train 37754 Down Local approached. The railway said the delay was linked to failures during duty handover and in timely communication between the station master and the gateman.
The response followed a video that circulated on social media alleging that the gate was open when the train arrived and that the gateman woke up after hearing the locomotive’s horn. Anandabazar.com said it had not independently verified the video. Eastern Railway said its investigation found the information in the video misleading and unsupported. It also said the name attributed to the person shown or mentioned in the video was incorrect.
The railway said investigators examined data logger records, the train’s speed chart, voice recordings from the gate and statements from the staff concerned. These records showed that the level crossing was fully closed and locked at 9.22 pm. The S W-2 gate signal then cleared, allowing the train to proceed.
Eastern Railway said the motorman responded to the signal conditions by reducing the train’s speed from about 36 kmph to 20 kmph. The train passed the green signal at 9.22 pm and 17 seconds and crossed the fully closed and locked level crossing at 9.22 pm and 51 seconds. The train did not stop.
No accident, injury, death or property damage was reported. The railway also said there was no instance of the train passing a dangerous signal or travelling in a dangerous manner. The account indicates that the crossing was secured before the train passed, although the closure did not happen within the expected operational sequence.
Level crossings require coordination between train operations, station control and road access management because a delay in one part of the process can create risk for both railway and road users. In this case, Eastern Railway’s statement places the focus on the procedure for handing over and taking charge of duty, as well as communication between the station master and the gate operator.
The railway said responsibility lapses had been identified and that the process of taking departmental action against the staff concerned had begun. It also said corrective and procedural measures were being introduced to prevent a recurrence. The delayed closure is being reviewed separately from the unsubstantiated allegation that the gateman was asleep.
