
A 44-second video from the Hathim Sarai railway crossing near Sambhal has gone viral, raising serious safety concerns after a loco pilot was seen manually tie a rope across the road to stop traffic before the train proceeded.
The video, recorded on a mobile phone, has triggered fresh questions over infrastructure gaps despite repeated claims by Indian Railways about eliminating unmanned broad-gauge crossings.
Train Stops, Driver Secures Makeshift Barrier
The video shows a gravel road intersecting a single railway line in a rural setting. A white car and a goods vehicle are seen waiting on either side of the tracks.
संभल रेलवे फाटक की हैरान करने वाली तस्वीर, हाथिमसराय स्टेशन के नजदीक स्थित एक रेलवे फाटक इन दिनों चर्चा का विषय बना हुआ है। यहां का नज़ारा चौंकाने वाला है ट्रेन आने पर खुद लोको पायलट ड्राइवर फाटक पर रस्सी बांधकर रास्ता रोकने का काम करना पड़ता है। pic.twitter.com/es8GIktSrc
— Asif Ansari (@Asifansari9410) February 24, 2026
The loco pilot is seen holding the rope across the road as the train is seen approaching and as the red locomotive with red-and-cream coaches approaches the loco then unties the rope as he succefully holds the traffic movement and is seen getting inside the train while it is still moving .
Once the rope is secured, the train begins to move and passes through the crossing while traffic remains halted.
Pilot Removes Rope While Train Still Moving
In a particularly risky moment captured in the footage, the loco pilot is seen remaining outside as the train continues to move. As the last coaches approach, he unties the rope barrier and then boards the moving train by climbing onto one of the rear coaches.
The sequence has alarmed viewers, who pointed out the danger posed not only to motorists but also to the railway staff member.
Netizens Flag ‘System Failure’
Several social media users reacted sharply, terming the incident a glaring example of systemic failure.
One user wrote, “This isn’t heroism, this is system failure. Unmanned crossings shouldn’t depend on one person risking their life.”
Another criticised the state of infrastructure, questioning railway safety standards in rural areas.
