It seems there is no end in sight to the catastrophe on level crossings. So, the unmanned level crossings have turned into potential death traps for people.
The rail-related fatalities are on the rise as most of the level crossings either authorised or unauthorised still remain unprotected. Is there no way to put an end to the tragedy on level crossings?
Will such deadly accident continue to occur across the country? Will the authorities concerned remain silent spectator for years and count how many people meeting the tragic end of their lives on the railway level crossings?
It is unfortunate that the country is losing its people to such disaster on level crossing almost throughout the year, most of which are avoidable. The Friday’s death of six people is one of the latest examples.
At least six people were killed when a running train hit a truck on a level crossing in Purbo Fazilpur Muhuriganj Bridge area under Feni’s Sadar upazila. The accident occurred on Friday morning when the Chattogram-bound mail train hit the truck while it was crossing the rail track as the gateman failed to place the bar despite the arrival of the train in the Muhuriganj Bridge area.
Accidents at many of the unmanned level crossings happen more often than not and due to poor condition of tracks. According to railway ministry, about 2,000 level crossings out of 3,200 across the country are unauthorised.
These unauthorised level crossings always remain unguarded. In most cases, the guards appointed at the authorised level crossing do not discharge their duties properly.
Will such deadly accident
continue to occur across
the country?
On the other hand, authorities of railway have not closed the “high risk” unmanned level crossings yet. Amid growing concerns over the casualties at unauthorised and unmanned railway level crossings, the authorities earlier had taken several measures to ensure safety.
But, the measures failed to stop the deadly accidents at the unprotected level crossings. When an accident occurs at any place in the country local people stage demonstration and protest rally demanding closing of unmanned and unauthorised level crossings.
If the authorities concerned do not construct speed breakers on each side of level crossings, close of the illegal level crossings and erect overpasses or underpasses on urgent basis, the situation will take a serious turn in future. Besides, authorities concerned must take immediate steps in order to put danger signs, appoint gatemen and demolish illegal establishments from both sides of rail tracks.
The railway authorities have been developing infrastructure but it has not attached importance on the safety-related issues. As they are not paying attention to this serious issue, such fatalities are increasing day by day.
If the authorities continue to put emphasis only on structural development without proper safety measures, its progress will get faded. The repetition of such deadly and tragic train accident that continue taking people’s lives as totally undesirable.
The concerned ministry must take up a separate project to oversee and improve maintenance of the level crossing, and arrange revised training for the gatemen. Simultaneously, it must recruit required number of guards.
The ministry always comes up with promises that they would strengthen its monitoring and take all-out steps to put an end to accidents on level crossing but to no avail.
The officials, employees and gatemen responsible for such fatal accidents are spared easily. The gatemen, who will be responsible for accidents on level crossings, must be severely punished so that none can dare neglect in discharging his duty.
