A Miscommunication That Cost Crores and a Marriage

A railway stationmaster's marriage and job were impacted by a misinterpreted 'OK' during a phone spat with his wife, leading to a train being sent through a restricted zone. This miscommunication resulted in a financial loss for the railways and contributed to the stationmaster's pursuit of divorce, which was ultimately granted by the Chhattisgarh High Court.

A seemingly innocent 'OK' during a phone conversation led to a significant mishap for a railway stationmaster from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. While on duty, he used the word to defer an argument with his wife, inadvertently causing a major miscommunication at work.

The stationmaster's colleague misinterpreted the 'OK' as a signal to dispatch a train through a Maoist-affected zone during restricted hours, leading to a substantial financial loss of Rs 3 crore for the railways. The mishap also resulted in the stationmaster's suspension, as reported to the court.

This communication error became a pivotal element in the stationmaster's divorce case, highlighting allegations of cruelty that were eventually upheld by the Chhattisgarh High Court. The court ruled in favor of the divorce based on the wife's behavior, which the court deemed as 'cruelty' towards the husband.

(With inputs from agencies.)