Mumbai: Today the women of India are hoisting their flag in every field. Recognizing the potential of Indian women in the country and abroad, they are being given the responsibility of respectable positions. It is also said that women have now outnumbered men. Today’s women can do everything. Women are capable of flying a plane in the sky to running a train on the tracks. Such successful women include Surekha Yadav. Surekha Yadav is the first Indian woman to become a Loco Pilot. Surekha Yadav is the first loco pilot of entire Asia.
Asia’s first woman loco pilot Surekha Yadav today piloted the Vande Bharat Express from Solapur to CSMT. She became the first woman to drive the Solapur-CSMT Vande Bharat Express on 13.3.2023. By becoming Vande Bharat Express loco pilot, he has added a golden chapter in the history of the Central Railway. Surekha Yadav was welcomed at platform number 8 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.
First woman loco pilot to drive Vande Bharat Express
Surekha Yadav said that I express my gratitude for giving me the opportunity to drive the Vande Bharat Express equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The train left Solapur on time and reached CSMT 5 minutes before time. She further said that the process of learning to drive a train includes following signals, getting hands-on with new equipment, coordinating with other crew members, and following all parameters to drive a train.
Life introduction of Surekha Yadav
Asia’s first woman rail pilot Surekha Yadav was born on 2 September 1965 in Maharashtra. She did her early education at St. Paul’s Convent High School, located in Satara in the state. For further studies, Surekha did a vocational training course and later obtained a diploma in electrical engineering.
Surekha Yadav’s dream
During her studies, Surekha used to dream about her career and future like ordinary girls. In those days, she wanted to become a teacher, not a loco driver. She had planned to get a B-Ed degree to become a teacher. However, later her path changed and she joined the Railways.
Surekha’s job in the railway
Surekha had an affinity for technical backgrounds and trains since childhood. She filled out the form for the pilot. In the year 1986, she had a written examination, and after passing, she also cleared the interview. Later, Surekha was appointed as an assistant driver at Kalyan Training School. Surekha Yadav got promoted to the post of the regular assistant driver in 1989 after completing training.
The career of Surekha Yadav
Surekha first started her career as a goods train driver. Slowly her driving skills got better. In the year 2000, she was promoted to the post of Motor Woman. After that in the year 2011, Surekha became the pilot of Express Mail. With this, Surekha Yadav got the title of Asia’s first woman train driver on the occasion of Women’s Day. Surekha has done train driving on Pune’s Deccan Queen to CST route which is considered to be the most dangerous railway route.
