Godhra train burning eyewitness Rajendra Rao Jadhav dies at 67 in Ratlam
Synopsis
The retired loco pilot who drove the Sabarmati Express on the morning of the 2002 Godhra train burning — and later became the complainant in the criminal case — has died in Ratlam at 67. Rajendra Rao Jadhav's passing closes one of the last direct human links to that defining and devastating morning.
Key Takeaways
Retired Senior Loco Pilot Rajendra Rao Jadhav , 67 , died in Ratlam on 5 July 2025 after a prolonged illness.
He was driving the Sabarmati Express when coach S-6 was set on fire near Godhra railway station on 27 February 2002 , killing 59 people .
Jadhav was an eyewitness to the attack and later became the complainant in the criminal case.
He retired from the Indian Railways in 2018 and is survived by his wife Sumati Jadhav , son Gaurav Jadhav , and three married daughters.
Last rites were performed at Triveni Muktidham , Ratlam, with railway officials and colleagues in attendance.
Retired Senior Loco Pilot Rajendra Rao Jadhav, who was at the controls of the Sabarmati Express during the 27 February 2002 Godhra train burning incident and subsequently became the complainant in the criminal case, passed away in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, on 5 July 2025 after a prolonged illness. He was 67. His death was confirmed by officials of the Ratlam Railway Division.
A Witness to a Defining Tragedy
On the morning of 27 February 2002, Jadhav was the senior loco pilot of the Sabarmati Express when coach S-6 of the train was set ablaze near Godhra railway station in Gujarat, killing 59 people. The attack triggered widespread communal violence across the state in the weeks that followed, making it one of the most consequential events in post-independence India.
According to reports, the Sabarmati Express had departed Ratlam at approximately 4:50 am that day, with Jadhav at the helm, accompanied by assistant loco pilot Mukesh Pachauri and guard S.N. Verma. As an eyewitness to the burning, Jadhav later filed the formal complaint that set the criminal proceedings in motion.
Final Days and Passing
Jadhav's son-in-law, Piyush Gaikwad, said the retired pilot had been unwell for an extended period and that his condition deteriorated suddenly on Sunday before he passed away. His last rites were conducted at Triveni Muktidham in Ratlam.
He is survived by his wife, Sumati Jadhav, his son, Gaurav Jadhav, and three married daughters.
Remembered by the Railway Community
Jadhav had retired from the Indian Railways in 2018 after a long career. Railway officials in Ratlam described him as a dedicated and disciplined employee. Serving and retired railway personnel, officials of the Ratlam Railway Division, and fellow loco pilots gathered at Triveni Muktidham to pay their last respects. Condolences poured in from across the railway fraternity.
The Godhra Incident: Historical Context
The Godhra train burning remains one of the most legally and politically examined events in modern Indian history. The criminal case that Jadhav helped initiate led to prolonged trials and convictions. Notably, Jadhav carried the weight of being a first-hand witness to an incident that shaped national discourse on communal violence and the rule of law for over two decades. His death closes a direct human link to that morning.
Point of View
And he chose to become the complainant rather than a bystander. That act of civic courage anchored the criminal proceedings for over two decades. His passing is a reminder that the human cost of the Godhra incident extended far beyond the 59 lives lost that morning — it shaped the lives of every witness who carried it forward through courts, testimony, and memory.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Rajendra Rao Jadhav?
Rajendra Rao Jadhav was a retired Senior Loco Pilot of the Indian Railways who was driving the Sabarmati Express when coach S-6 was set on fire near Godhra railway station on 27 February 2002. He later became the complainant in the criminal case arising from the incident and retired from service in 2018.
What was the Godhra train burning incident of 2002?
On 27 February 2002, coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express was set ablaze near Godhra railway station in Gujarat, killing 59 people. The incident triggered large-scale communal violence across Gujarat and became one of the most legally and politically significant events in post-independence India.
When and where did Rajendra Rao Jadhav pass away?
Jadhav passed away on 5 July 2025 in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, after a prolonged illness. His son-in-law Piyush Gaikwad confirmed that his condition had deteriorated suddenly on Sunday before he died.
Who were the other crew members on the Sabarmati Express that day?
According to reports, Jadhav was accompanied by assistant loco pilot Mukesh Pachauri and guard S.N. Verma when the Sabarmati Express departed Ratlam at approximately 4:50 am on 27 February 2002.
Who survives Rajendra Rao Jadhav?
He is survived by his wife Sumati Jadhav, his son Gaurav Jadhav, and three married daughters.
