Unmanned level crossings have turned into potential death traps for people across the country. Three police constables were killed and three others injured as a train hit a pickup van at Fakirhat rail crossing under Sitakunda Upazila of Chattogram district on August 27.
The accident took place as a Chattogram-bound inter-city Sonar Bangla Express train crossing Salimpur-Fakirhat rail crossing from Dhaka hit the police van when the police van went on the railway track at the said rail crossing under Sitakunda upazila of the district. Police said that the gateman of the railway crossing, Bipu, was not at the spot and the signal bamboo was not hoisted. It is worth mentioning that at least 11 people died and seven others were critically injured when a train hit a microbus at a rail crossing in Mirsharai of Chattogram in July 29 last year.
According to railways ministry, about 2,000 level crossings out of 3,200 across the country are unauthorised. These unauthorised level crossings always remain unguarded. Also, in most cases, the guards appointed at the authorised level crossing do not discharge their duties properly.
If the authorities concerned do not construct
speed breakers on each side of level crossings
and close the illegal level crossings, the
situation will take a serious turn in the future
Amid growing concerns over the casualties at unauthorised and unmanned railway level crossings, the authorities earlier had taken several measures to ensure safety. However, these measures failed to stop the frequent deadly accidents at the unprotected level crossings, claiming lives and damaging property. If the authorities concerned do not construct speed breakers on each side of level crossings, close the illegal level crossings and erect overpasses or underpasses on urgent basis, the situation will take a serious turn in the future. Besides, authorities concerned must take immediate steps 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. If the authorities continue to put emphasis only on structural development without proper safety measures, its progress will get faded once.
The ministry concerned must take up a separate project to oversee and improve maintenance of the level crossing, and building capacity of the gatemen through revise training methodology.
The gatemen, who will be responsible for accidents on level crossings, must be severely punished so that none can be dared to neglect to discharge his duty in future.