Trailblazer Locopilot Surekha Yadav Retires After Pioneering Career

Surekha Yadav, widely recognized for shattering the glass ceiling as Asia's first woman locopilot, is concluding her distinguished career with the Indian Railways at the end of this month, marking 36 years of dedicated service.

Yadav, who hails from Maharashtra's Satara district, began her historic journey in 1989, swiftly rising through the ranks in a predominantly male field. By 1990, she had made history as Asia's first woman train driver. Her career saw her transition from goods trains in 1996 to becoming a celebrated motorwoman and a ghat driver, eventually commanding mail and express trains.

In a remarkable capstone to her career, Yadav drove the inaugural Vande Bharat Express from Solapur this year and capped off her service by piloting the prestigious Rajdhani Express on the iconic Delhi to Mumbai route. Her career stands as a testament to her pioneering spirit and a beacon of women's empowerment within Indian Railways.

(With inputs from agencies.)