Surekha Yadav: India's first female train driver on blazing the trail

Surekha Yadav became a train driver at a time when it was uncommon for Indian women to take up the profession.

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Earlier this week, Ms Yadav bade farewell to her job after 36 years of service, retiring as India's first female train driver.

Over the years, she has operated a variety of trains across the length and breadth of India, sometimes navigating challenging terrain and harsh weather conditions.

Today, there are more than 2,000 female train operators in the Indian Railways, but Ms Yadav took up the job at a time when it was uncommon for women to explore this profession.

Born in 1965 in a small town in India's western Maharashtra state, Ms Yadav comes from a farming family and is the eldest of five siblings.