Meet Surekha Yadav, Asia's First Woman Locomotive Pilot Operating Vande Bharat Express

Surekha Yadav becomes the first woman locomotive pilot in Asia, operating the Vande Bharat Express. Yadav created history and fulfilled her dream by driving the long-distance passenger train Vande Bharat Express over 455 kilometres, the longest distance driven by a woman pilot in 6.35 hours.

Railway’s Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw lauded Yadav on his Twitter handle. "Vande Bharat—powered by Nari Shakti. Surekha Yadav becomes the first woman loco pilot of the Vande Bharat Express," read the tweet.

On Monday, Yadav operated the Vande Bharat Express from Solapur to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal (CSMT) in Maharashtra.

Who is Surekha Yadav?

Yadav created history and fulfilled her dream by driving the long-distance passenger train Vande Bharat Express over 455 kilometres, the longest distance driven by a woman pilot in 6.35 hours. Yadav was facilitated at the CSMT by fellow train drivers for her achievement.

Yadav was grateful for being given the opportunity to operate the high-speed Vande Bharat Express, according to the Central Railway. The Vande Bharat Express had departed from Solapur at the correct time and reached CSMT five minutes earlier.

Yada is the recipient of several honours from both the state and the centre.

Yada hails from Maharashtra’s Satara and became India’s first woman train driver in 1988. She had graduated with a diploma in electrical engineering before joining the Central Railway.

Before being deployed as Vande Bharat’s pilot, Yadav completed a training schedule at the railway institute in Vadodara in February 2023.

Yadav operated the esteemed Decan Queen with Sayali Sawardekar serving as assistant loco pilot on International Women’s Day with an all-women crew. The 57-year-old drove the first "Ladies Special" local train when it was first introduced in metro cities in 2000.

She has driven many types of trains, including local suburban, ghat trains with twin engines, goods, and mail express. She is married to Shankar Yadav, Inspector of Police in Maharashtra, and the couple have two sons.

The Vande Bharat Express from Solapur to CSMT was flagged off by PM Narendra Modi in February to improve connectivity between the two cities.

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