Karthika, a 28-year-old trailblazer from Idukki in Kerala, defied the odds to become the district’s first woman loco pilot. Despite her home region’s lack of railway connectivity, her determination led her from her roots in Vandiperiyar, a remote area in the Western Ghats, to piloting trains across Chennai’s bustling railway hubs. Her parents, Rajan and Manomani, originally moved to Vandiperiyar from Tamil Nadu to work in plantations, and Karthika’s journey to education and employment required her to overcome significant challenges, including commuting long distances to school. Eventually, her parents sent her to Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, where she completed her education, later earning a BTech degree from Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology.
Clearing the Railway Recruitment Board’s rigorous exams and fitness tests, Karthika secured her first posting in the Tiruchirappalli division, beginning her career as an assistant loco pilot on freight trains and advancing to passenger trains three years later. Karthika explains that piloting trains demands high physical and mental resilience. She regularly faces 10 to 12-hour shifts, often extended due to train delays, and manages duties in hot, non-air-conditioned engine rooms with limited access to restrooms. The job, while rewarding, requires constant alertness, with responsibilities such as checking signals and stopping quickly when necessary.
With her husband Prasanth, also an assistant loco pilot, and a supportive family, Karthika has embraced the challenges of her role. Her experience growing up in Idukki’s rugged landscape has given her the strength to manage the physical demands of her career and serve as a role model for future women in railway service.
