Indian Railways wants zero alcohol in loco pilots' blood, but what if tests detect traces without drinking? The rule under review

The Railway Board is yet to decide whether loco pilots should be considered fit for duty when laboratory tests detect very low levels of alcohol in their blood, even though they may not have consumed alcohol. The issue remains under review despite concerns raised by railway officials and a Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) report following the fatal 2025 Bilaspur train collision in Chhattisgarh, PTI reported. Under the existing Indian Railway Medical Manual (IRMM), railway staff working on trains must have zero blood alcohol levels. However, railway officials have raised concerns about laboratories' ability to accurately measure very low alcohol concentrations, prompting calls for the rules to be reviewed.

A senior railway official told PTI that the Railway Board should take a decision on the matter at the earliest, pointing out that it has remained unresolved for nearly a year.

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Bilaspur train accident raises questions over alcohol testing

The issue gained attention after the CRS investigated the collision between a Gevra-Bilaspur MEMU passenger train and a stationary goods train near Bilaspur on November 4, 2025.

The passenger train rammed into the rear of the goods train, killing 12 people, including the passenger train's loco pilot, and injuring around 20 others.

The CRS investigation found that the passenger train had passed a red signal. It also noted that the loco pilot had previously failed a mandatory aptitude test and should not have been assigned to active MEMU service.

Another finding concerned alcohol testing of the running crew members of the two trains. While breathalyser tests returned zero alcohol readings, blood tests showed ethanol concentrations ranging from 3 to 10 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, according to the investigation report.

The findings raised questions about how railway authorities should interpret low alcohol readings from blood samples when breathalyser tests show no alcohol.

Why Indian Railways' zero-alcohol rule is under review

Paragraph 565 of the Indian Railway Medical Manual stipulates that only zero blood alcohol levels are acceptable for staff working on trains.

The Railway Board reiterated this requirement in 2001, stating: "No alcohol is admissible in the blood of staff working on the trains and zero blood alcohol levels only are acceptable."

However, railway medical officials have pointed to limitations in laboratory testing. The principal chief medical director (PCMD) of South East Central Railway (SECR), whose jurisdiction includes the Bilaspur accident site, informed the CRS that an empanelled private laboratory could not accurately assess alcohol concentrations below 3 mg/dL.

The official also said that readings below 10 mg/dL were being treated as negative because blood alcohol levels could reach that range for metabolic reasons unrelated to alcohol consumption.

In its report, the CRS cited the medical director's assessment and recommended a review of the existing provisions.

"Considering the opinion of PCMD/SECR, the limits prescribed in Paragraph 565 of the IRMM need to be reviewed by the Railway Board," the CRS said.

Railway laboratories flag difficulty measuring low alcohol levels

The concern is not limited to South East Central Railway. Several railway zones, including Northern Railway, have also raised questions about the accuracy of tests at low alcohol concentrations.

According to the Railway Board's earlier communication, the principal chief electrical engineer of Northern Railway had flagged the issue, noting that the minimum alcohol concentration detectable by railway-empanelled and railway-owned laboratories in most zones was above 10 mg/dL.

The communication stated: "It has been observed that, 'The minimum level of alcohol that can be detected in railway empanelled laboratories/railway's own labs in most of the zones is greater than 10mg/dl. In most of the zones, precise blood alcohol level cannot be assessed for lower levels as per railway requirement.'"

In response to the CRS observation, the Railway Board had said that the issue was being examined by its Health Directorate. When contacted by PTI, the board provided no update on whether a decision had been taken.

Loco pilots' union seeks review of blood alcohol rules

The All India Loco Running Staff Association has argued that very low levels of ethanol can be detected in blood for reasons other than drinking alcohol. Citing scientific studies, the union said that people who have not consumed alcohol could also record blood alcohol levels of up to, or even above, 10 mg/dL.

The union has also referred to the Motor Vehicles Act, under which a blood alcohol concentration exceeding 30 mg/dL is treated as an offence for driving a motor vehicle.

A senior zonal railway official told PTI that the delay in reviewing the rules was causing concern, as staff could face disciplinary action based on low blood alcohol readings even when they had not consumed alcohol.

"Even innocent loco pilots face disciplinary action under the 'zero alcohol' norm because their blood samples show results up to 10 mg/dL or more, even though they have never consumed alcohol," the official said.

The official urged the Railway Board to resolve the issue urgently.


Inputs from TOI