An investigation has been ordered by the Indian Railways after a freight train traveled over 70km without any drivers. Videos circulating on social media showed the train speeding past several stations. The incident occurred between Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and Hoshiarpur district in Punjab. The train, carrying stone chips, had stopped in Kathua for a crew change when it started moving down a slope on the tracks after the driver and assistant got off. The train managed to cross five stations before it was stopped by railway officials who placed wood blocks on the tracks to reduce its speed. The exact reason for the train’s movement is still being determined to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Original news source: Runaway Indian train travels 70km without driver (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to read the article and together, create a brief summary of the main points.
4. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Write the following question on the board: “Do you think the Indian Railways should be held responsible for the incident? Why or why not?”
2. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
3. Instruct each group to discuss the question and come up with their own opinion.
4. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their opinion with the class and facilitate a class discussion.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Write a list of key vocabulary words from the article on the board.
3. Instruct each group to choose a word from the list and draw a picture that represents the word.
4. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their picture with the class. The class must guess which word the picture represents.

– Keyword Taboo
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Assign each group a keyword from the article.
3. Instruct each group to take turns describing the keyword without using the word itself or any related words.
4. The rest of the group must guess the keyword based on the description.
5. After a designated amount of time, rotate the keywords and continue the game.

– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Write the following question on the board: “What measures do you think the Indian Railways should take to prevent similar incidents in the future?”
2. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
3. Instruct each group to discuss the question and come up with their own predictions.
4. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their predictions with the class and facilitate a class discussion.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the cargo being carried by the freight train?
2. How far did the train travel without any drivers?
3. Where did the incident occur?
4. What action did railway officials take to stop the train?
5. Why did the train start moving down a slope on the tracks?
6. How many stations did the train cross before it was stopped?
7. What measures are being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future?
8. What videos were circulating on social media regarding the incident?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

An investigation has been ordered by the Indian (1)______ after a freight (2)______ traveled over 70km without any drivers. Videos (3)______ on (4)______ media showed the train speeding past several stations. The (5)______ occurred between Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and Hoshiarpur (6)______ in (7)______. The train, carrying (8)______ chips, had stopped in Kathua for a crew change when it started moving down a slope on the tracks after the driver and assistant got off. The train managed to cross five stations before it was stopped by railway officials who placed wood blocks on the tracks to reduce its speed. The exact reason for the train’s (9)______ is still being determined to (10)______ similar (11)______ in the future.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What do you think could have caused the train to start moving without any drivers?
2. How would you feel if you were a passenger on the train that was moving without any drivers?
3. Do you think the railway officials responded quickly and effectively to stop the train? Why or why not?
4. What measures do you think could be put in place to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future?
5. Have you ever witnessed or experienced a similar incident where something was moving without anyone controlling it? If so, can you describe what happened?
6. How important do you think it is for the Indian Railways to investigate this incident? Why or why not?
7. Do you think the drivers of the train should face any consequences for leaving the train unattended? Why or why not?
8. What do you think the consequences should be for the drivers if they are found responsible for the train moving without any drivers?
9. Do you think incidents like this can damage the reputation of the Indian Railways? Why or why not?
10. How do you think incidents like this affect the trust and confidence of passengers in the Indian Railways?
11. Do you think the use of technology, such as automatic braking systems, could have prevented this incident from happening? Why or why not?
12. How would you feel if you were a railway official who had to stop the train using wood blocks on the tracks?
13. What do you think the train drivers and assistant were thinking when they got off the train and it started moving?
14. Do you think the train should have been carrying stone chips without any drivers on board? Why or why not?
15. How do you think incidents like this can be prevented in the future?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. investigation
2. freight
3. circulating
4. incident
5. slope
6. crew
7. assistant
8. stations
9. officials
10. blocks
11. speed
12. reason
13. prevent
14. future
15. similar

Meanings:
(A) Having a resemblance in appearance, character, or quantity, without being identical
(B) A person who assists, helps, or supports another person, especially in a job or task
(C) Goods or cargo transported for commercial gain, especially by train, ship, or aircraft
(D) A detailed examination or inquiry into something to discover facts or information
(E) People in charge or in a position of authority within an organization
(F) Solid pieces or objects used to support, fill a space, or as a construction material
(G) An event or occurrence, especially one that is unexpected or unusual
(H) Places where trains stop to pick up or drop off passengers or goods
(I) Time that is to come or the events that will happen in that time
(J) A surface of which one end or side is at a higher level than another; a rising or falling surface
(K) The cause or explanation for something that happens or is done
(L) Moving around or spreading widely, typically information or rumors
(M) A group of people who work together, especially all those who work on and operate a ship, aircraft, etc.
(N) To stop something from happening or to keep someone from doing something
(O) The rate at which someone or something moves or operates or is able to move or operate
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the subject of the investigation ordered by the Indian Railways?
(a) Social media videos
(b) A freight train traveling without drivers
(c) Stone chips
(d) Railway officials

2. Where did the incident with the freight train occur?
(a) Between Kathua and Hoshiarpur
(b) In Jammu and Kashmir
(c) In Punjab
(d) At a crew change station

3. What was the train carrying?
(a) Stone chips
(b) Passengers
(c) Goods
(d) Railway officials

4. What did the train do after the driver and assistant got off?
(a) It stopped at several stations
(b) It circled back to Kathua
(c) It crashed into a building
(d) It started moving down a slope

5. How many stations did the train manage to cross before being stopped?
(a) Ten
(b) Five
(c) Three
(d) None

6. How did railway officials stop the train?
(a) They called the police
(b) They boarded the train and took control
(c) They shut down the train’s engine remotely
(d) They placed wood blocks on the tracks

7. What is the goal of determining the exact reason for the train’s movement?
(a) To punish the driver and assistant
(b) To improve social media videos
(c) To prevent similar incidents in the future
(d) To increase the speed of freight trains

8. What is the purpose of the investigation ordered by the Indian Railways?
(a) To determine who posted the videos on social media
(b) To find out why the train was carrying stone chips
(c) To prevent similar incidents in the future
(d) To improve the efficiency of crew changes

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The train was carrying stone chips at the time of the incident.
2. The driver and assistant had boarded the train before it began moving.
3. The train had stopped in Kathua for a crew change before it started moving down a slope on the tracks.
4. The Indian Railways has canceled an investigation into a freight train that traveled over 70km without any drivers.
5. Railway officials removed wood blocks on the tracks to increase the train’s speed and eventually stop it.
6. The train managed to cross five stations before it was stopped by railway officials.
7. Videos of the incident were not shared on social media, showing the train speeding past several stations.
8. The incident took place between Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and Hoshiarpur district in Punjab.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What was the cargo being carried by the freight train that traveled without any drivers?
2. Where did the incident of the train traveling without drivers occur?
3. How did railway officials manage to stop the train?
4. What measures are being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future?
5. Why is an investigation being ordered by the Indian Railways?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was the cargo being carried by the freight train?
Stone chips.

2. How far did the train travel without any drivers?
Over 70km.

3. Where did the incident occur?
Between Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and Hoshiarpur district in Punjab.

4. What action did railway officials take to stop the train?
They placed wood blocks on the tracks to reduce its speed.

5. Why did the train start moving down a slope on the tracks?
The driver and assistant got off the train after a crew change, and it started moving down a slope on its own.

6. How many stations did the train cross before it was stopped?
Five stations.

7. What measures are being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future?
An investigation has been ordered by the Indian Railways to determine the exact reason for the train’s movement and prevent similar incidents.

8. What videos were circulating on social media regarding the incident?
Videos showing the train speeding past several stations.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Railways
(2) train
(3) circulating
(4) social
(5) incident
(6) district
(7) Punjab
(8) stone
(9) movement
(10) prevent
(11) incidents
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. investigation
Answer: (D) A detailed examination or inquiry into something to discover facts or information

2. freight
Answer: (C) Goods or cargo transported for commercial gain, especially by train, ship, or aircraft

3. circulating
Answer: (L) Moving around or spreading widely, typically information or rumors

4. incident
Answer: (G) An event or occurrence, especially one that is unexpected or unusual

5. slope
Answer: (J) A surface of which one end or side is at a higher level than another; a rising or falling surface

6. crew
Answer: (M) A group of people who work together, especially all those who work on and operate a ship, aircraft, etc.

7. assistant
Answer: (B) A person who assists, helps, or supports another person, especially in a job or task

8. stations
Answer: (H) Places where trains stop to pick up or drop off passengers or goods

9. officials
Answer: (E) People in charge or in a position of authority within an organization

10. blocks
Answer: (F) Solid pieces or objects used to support, fill a space, or as a construction material

11. speed
Answer: (O) The rate at which someone or something moves or operates or is able to move or operate

12. reason
Answer: (K) The cause or explanation for something that happens or is done

13. prevent
Answer: (N) To stop something from happening or to keep someone from doing something

14. future
Answer: (I) Time that is to come or the events that will happen in that time

15. similar
Answer: (A) Having a resemblance in appearance, character, or quantity, without being identical
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the subject of the investigation ordered by the Indian Railways?
Answer: (b) A freight train traveling without drivers

2. Where did the incident with the freight train occur?
Answer: (a) Between Kathua and Hoshiarpur

3. What was the train carrying?
Answer: (a) Stone chips

4. What did the train do after the driver and assistant got off?
Answer: (d) It started moving down a slope

5. How many stations did the train manage to cross before being stopped?
Answer: (b) Five

6. How did railway officials stop the train?
Answer: (d) They placed wood blocks on the tracks

7. What is the goal of determining the exact reason for the train’s movement?
Answer: (c) To prevent similar incidents in the future

8. What is the purpose of the investigation ordered by the Indian Railways?
Answer: (c) To prevent similar incidents in the future
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The train was carrying stone chips at the time of the incident. (Answer: True)
2. The driver and assistant had boarded the train before it began moving. (Answer: False)
3. The train had stopped in Kathua for a crew change before it started moving down a slope on the tracks. (Answer: True)
4. The Indian Railways has canceled an investigation into a freight train that traveled over 70km without any drivers. (Answer: False)
5. Railway officials removed wood blocks on the tracks to increase the train’s speed and eventually stop it. (Answer: False)
6. The train managed to cross five stations before it was stopped by railway officials. (Answer: True)
7. Videos of the incident were not shared on social media, showing the train speeding past several stations. (Answer: False)
8. The incident took place between Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and Hoshiarpur district in Punjab. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧