Tragedy at Barabkunda level-crossing

Khalilur Rahman The tragic accident at Barabkunda level-crossing in Chittagong in which five people on board a jeep were killed on the spot and two others injured critically when the Dhaka-bound Karnaphuli Express train from Chittagong rammed into the vehicle on September 28 last. This is an addition to the long list of such accidents occurred at various level-crossing across the country in recent times. Eyewitness account on the Barabkunda accident says that the bar at the eastern side of the level-crossing was not in place and the gateman, as usual, remained absent when the jeep carrying seven employees of Progoti Industries Limited tried to pass through the unguarded crossing. Three probe committees formed by the Bangladesh Railway (BR) authority after the accident in their reports held the driver of the jeep responsible for the accident. The BR probe reports said that the jeep driver was trying to pass through the level-crossing though the train was visible and he ignored the signal of the gateman. But the Progoti Industries Limited authority which also conducted probe into the accident found that the gateman was absent from his duty just a few minutes before the accident occurred. This finding in the Progoti probe report was corroborated by one of the two survivors of the mishap. Khayer Hossain, an employee of the Progoti Industries Limited who survived the accident told journalists that the gateman of Barabkunda level-crossing was not present when the jeep carrying them was crossing the spot. Mr. Khayer also said the jeep could reach the railway track as the gate of the level-crossing was open. Several eyewitnesses said that the bar of the eastern side of the level-crossing was not there and the jeep came through that direction. Syed Jahirul Islam, chief operating superintendent of BR who heads one of the three railway probe committees said that as per Motor Vehicle Act of 1983, a driver should "stop first, observe and cross the level". The driver of the Progoti jeep violated the rules and thought that he could cross the track before the train could pass through the place. Mr. Jahirul Islam, however, admitted to the journalists that the gate of the level crossing at the eastern side was open and had no bar. The Barabkunda tragedy once again exposes inherent weakness of traffic management by the authorities concerned. We know that level-crossing is a place where a railway and a road cross each other on the same level. The crossing is manned by railway employees who pull down bars on both sides of the track to prevent the movement of vehicular traffic long before a running train passes through the spot. Primarily, it should be the responsibility of the railway authority to guard the level crossing. Three separate authorities including the railway are assigned to maintain level-crossings. The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) are two other agencies involved in it. Early this year we reported in this column that out of 2541 level-crossings in the country, 1500 are unauthorised. All the 1500 unauthorised level-crossings have no rail gate. This has exposed the users of these places to serious hazards. The railway sources say that before construction of roads through the railway track the relevant agency should seek permission of the railway authority. But none of the agencies is abiding by the rule. As a result, the number of unauthorised level-crossings is gradually increasing. This has also resulted in frequent accidents. With regard to construction of roads on a railway track, the respective agencies, either RHD or local bodies, must install rail gate at their own costs. After a rail gate is built, the railway authority will put a gateman there. On the other hand, the LGED says that the number of roads is increasing day by day and as such the level-crossings are also on the rise. The LGED says as per rule they are not supposed to construct rail gate at their own cost. There should be a national policy on the matter, LGED sources said. The RHD, on the other hand, says the level-crossings, in most cases on its roads, are authorised. It is the task of the railway authority to post gatemen there. Several months ago the railway authority started collecting information on authorised and unauthorised level-crossings. With regard to authorised level-crossings, one can reasonably argue why gatemen were not present at the time of passing of a train through the spots. Many tragic accidents could be avoided if the rail gates were kept closed during the movement of trains. (E-mail : khalilbdh@gmail.com)