The rail-related fatalities are on the rise as most of the level crossings either authorised or unauthorised still remain unprotected. So, the illegal and unmanned level crossings have turned into potential death traps for people across the country.
Train accidents are common in our country, many at unmanned level crossings and some due to the poor condition of tracks. Four people were killed and four others injured when a train crashed into a sand-laden truck on Shambhuganj Raghurampur level crossing in Mymensingh’s Sadar upazila on Monday.
The truck entered the level-crossing as there was no gateman or a bar. Police say the accident occurred as the level crossing was illegal. 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. In most cases, the guards appointed at the authorised level crossing do not discharge their duties properly.
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.
However, the measures failed to stop the frequent deadly accidents at the unprotected level crossings, claiming lives and damaging property. 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 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 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 to the safety-related issues. As they are not paying attention to this serious issue, such fatalities are increasing day by day.
The concerned ministry must to take up a separate project to oversee and improve maintenance of the level crossing, and building capacity of the gatemen through revise training methodology. Simultaneously, it must recruit required guards alongside sealing off the unauthorised level crossing.