Tragedy at level-crossings
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Khalilur Rahman
Wednesday's tragic accident at Sayedabad level-crossing in the city which claimed the lives of seven people and left over two dozen others injured once again exposes inherent weakness of traffic management by the concerned authorities. We know that level-crossing is a place where a railway and a road cross each other on the same level. The crossing are 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.
The traffic department of the police is equally responsible for controlling road transports which ply through level-crossings. Several eye witnesses to Sayedabad fatal accident reported that two passenger buses which were hit by a Dhaka-bound local train from Narayanganj during peak hours around 5 p.m. were caught in a gridlock on the railway track itself. The driver of the passenger buses reportedly forced their way into the level-crossing because of the negligence of the railway gatekeeper who pulled down the bars a bit late. Moreover, bars of the one side were brought down keeping the other side open. Once inside the crossing, the buses could neither move forward because of the bars in front nor backward due to gridlock. Had there been police on duty at the spot they could prevent the reckless drivers to pass through when the rumbling of the approaching train was clearly audible.
Most of the passengers managed to escape from the trapped buses hearing the loud noise of fast approaching train which was, witnesses reported, blowing its whistle. But before the running train could stop it hit the stationary buses. As it was a peak hour there was heavy rush of vehicular traffic and pedestrians, but no traffic policeman was in sight. The traffic congestion was more acute because of the concentration of wayside vendors selling fruits and other commodities. Why the police allowed vendors to run their trade so close to the railway track is anybody's guess. The wayside vendors not only at the level crossings but in other parts of the city can continue their trade in exchange of tolls to local mastans and a section of unscrupulous police personnel.
Such accidents at level crossings are not new. But measures to contain the mishaps by the railway authorities and the policemen are utterly lacking. After each mishap probe body is formed routinely and in this way the administration ends up its duty but the doors remain open for subsequent accidents. This is for the first time that the government quickly announced construction of six overpasses on six major level crossings in the city by 2012, a day after Sayedabad accident, to avert accidents occurring frequently.
It is common sight that the people are reluctant to use overpasses. They always find it convenient to pass through Zebra-crossing. A public rally held on Friday in the city urged the government to restore Zebra-crossings to ensure safe walking for all sections of the people including the sick, elderly and physically handicapped. Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) organized the rally in front of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Thursday. POBA chairman Abu Naser Khan said that the Zebra-crossing across the city will be more comfortable and safe for the road users.
Let us say a few words about journey by train, the biggest state-run transport sector in the country, which is no longer safe. Reports reaching from various parts of the country say that the railway passengers, particularly in the northern region under western zone, have become hostage to gangs of snatchers, pickpockets, thieves and other anti-social elements. It is alleged that the policemen and Government Railway Police (GRP) are not taking proper actions against the organised gangs of miscreants.
E-mail: khalilbdh@gmail.com
Wednesday's tragic accident at Sayedabad level-crossing in the city which claimed the lives of seven people and left over two dozen others injured once again exposes inherent weakness of traffic management by the concerned authorities. We know that level-crossing is a place where a railway and a road cross each other on the same level. The crossing are 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.
The traffic department of the police is equally responsible for controlling road transports which ply through level-crossings. Several eye witnesses to Sayedabad fatal accident reported that two passenger buses which were hit by a Dhaka-bound local train from Narayanganj during peak hours around 5 p.m. were caught in a gridlock on the railway track itself. The driver of the passenger buses reportedly forced their way into the level-crossing because of the negligence of the railway gatekeeper who pulled down the bars a bit late. Moreover, bars of the one side were brought down keeping the other side open. Once inside the crossing, the buses could neither move forward because of the bars in front nor backward due to gridlock. Had there been police on duty at the spot they could prevent the reckless drivers to pass through when the rumbling of the approaching train was clearly audible.
Most of the passengers managed to escape from the trapped buses hearing the loud noise of fast approaching train which was, witnesses reported, blowing its whistle. But before the running train could stop it hit the stationary buses. As it was a peak hour there was heavy rush of vehicular traffic and pedestrians, but no traffic policeman was in sight. The traffic congestion was more acute because of the concentration of wayside vendors selling fruits and other commodities. Why the police allowed vendors to run their trade so close to the railway track is anybody's guess. The wayside vendors not only at the level crossings but in other parts of the city can continue their trade in exchange of tolls to local mastans and a section of unscrupulous police personnel.
Such accidents at level crossings are not new. But measures to contain the mishaps by the railway authorities and the policemen are utterly lacking. After each mishap probe body is formed routinely and in this way the administration ends up its duty but the doors remain open for subsequent accidents. This is for the first time that the government quickly announced construction of six overpasses on six major level crossings in the city by 2012, a day after Sayedabad accident, to avert accidents occurring frequently.
It is common sight that the people are reluctant to use overpasses. They always find it convenient to pass through Zebra-crossing. A public rally held on Friday in the city urged the government to restore Zebra-crossings to ensure safe walking for all sections of the people including the sick, elderly and physically handicapped. Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) organized the rally in front of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Thursday. POBA chairman Abu Naser Khan said that the Zebra-crossing across the city will be more comfortable and safe for the road users.
Let us say a few words about journey by train, the biggest state-run transport sector in the country, which is no longer safe. Reports reaching from various parts of the country say that the railway passengers, particularly in the northern region under western zone, have become hostage to gangs of snatchers, pickpockets, thieves and other anti-social elements. It is alleged that the policemen and Government Railway Police (GRP) are not taking proper actions against the organised gangs of miscreants.
E-mail: khalilbdh@gmail.com