Marital Dispute Costs Railways ₹3 Crore

A Phone Misunderstanding Leads to Huge Financial Loss

In an unusual incident, a marital dispute between a railway employee and his wife caused a ₹3 crore (about £270,000) loss to Indian Railways.

The trouble began when a station master in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, had a phone conversation with his wife during his shift. He said, “We will talk at home, okay?” But his workplace microphone was accidentally left on, and a colleague overheard the conversation. The colleague misunderstood the message and thought it was an order to send a freight train on a restricted track in a dangerous area.

Although no one was injured, the violation of railway rules resulted in a huge financial penalty for Indian Railways. The loss was estimated to be ₹3 crore due to the mistake.

The station master was suspended for his mistake, and the situation led to further personal problems. His wife filed for divorce, and she also accused him and his family of harassment.

This incident shows how a small misunderstanding can lead to serious financial and personal consequences.