Mymensingh: The much-discussed saying of the Bengali proverb ‘The patient died before the doctor arrived’ proved to be true once again in Mymensingh Railway. There has been a mixed reaction among the local residents and the conscious community.
Earlier on Tuesday (April 23) night, two passengers of an autorickshaw were killed when the Dewanganj-bound Brahmaputra Express train hit the railway crossing in Pachapukur Par area of Mymensingh city. A day after this incident, the concerned authorities came to their senses and the gate barrier of the crossing was repaired on Wednesday (April 24) morning.
On Wednesday (April 24) at noon, the gateman in charge of the railway crossing in Pachapukur Par area of the city. Alam Badsha confirmed the truth of this news.
He told BanglaNews, ‘The barrier on one side of the gate barrier was damaged during the accident last night. However, the damaged barrier was repaired on Wednesday afternoon. But before the repair, the resident of Uzan Badera area of Mymensingh Sadar Upazila was killed by a train when he came to the marriage market. Abdur Rahman (55) and his niece Shefali Akhtar (40).
Eyewitnesses of the incident said that the Brahmaputra Express train bound for Dewanganj from Dhaka was crossing Mymensingh Junction and heading towards Jamalpur. At that time, the train hit a passenger autorickshaw at another crossing in Pachapukurpar area between Mintu College and New Bazar rail crossing in the area near the junction. The passengers were crushed under the train and died on the spot.
Eyewitnesses also said that when the train was coming, the autorickshaw went over the railway track due to the lack of barriers at the crossing. This is the accident. However, the barrier was quickly removed after the accident.
Relatives and locals of the deceased said that if the crossing barrier had been removed on time, the autorickshaw could not have climbed over the railway line. This accident would not have happened.
According to related sources, at the time of the accident, Md. Getman was in charge of this crossing. Mostafizur Rahman. The accident happened in his presence. However, despite trying to contact several times to know about the incident, Mr. Getman said. Mostafizur Rahman’s statement is not known.
In this regard, Mymensingh Railway Deputy Assistant Engineer Mostafizur Rahman said, we had a gateman at the crossing due to the accident. However, the barrier on one side fell during the incident, but the barrier on the other side did not fall. At that time, the passenger autorickshaw entered through the side of the barrier. We came to know that the accident happened because of this. However, a six-member investigation committee is working to find the real cause of the incident. Details will be given in the report.
According to sources, 205 railway crossings in Mymensingh have turned into death traps over the past few years. Many of these unguarded crossings do not have gatemen and gate barriers. Again, although there are gatemen in many places, the gate barriers are useless or broken. Also, most of the gatemen on duty at these railway crossings have been charged with negligence. Even the one employed in this work is being replaced by another person. As a result, there are frequent accidents at these railway crossings like in the past. Many people are losing their lives. Yet hundreds of people and vehicles cross these crossings every day at risk.
Railway engineering department sources said that a total of 202 km of Mymensingh-Dhaka, Mymensingh-Netrakona-Mohanganj, Mymensingh-Jamalpur route, Vidyaganj and Mymensingh-Bhairab railways belong to the engineering department of Mymensingh Railway. The total number of railway level crossings on these routes is 205. Of these, only 65 level crossings are permitted. It has gateman and gate barrier in only 48. Out of this there are 140 unauthorized crossings. As a result, Gateman and Berrier are not in the crossings in authorized and unauthorized 157.
They said that the unauthorized labeled crossings were constructed by LGED, Roads and Highways Department, various union councils and local residents for their own needs.
According to sources, if a label crossing needs to be constructed anywhere within 10 years of laying a railway line, it is financed by the railway itself. After the expiry of this period, if a label crossing is required due to road construction by any other department of the government, the concerned authority will have to construct it at its own cost. But despite the construction of roads over the railway line by other departments of the government, no initiative has been taken to prevent accidents. Even no warning board has been issued by them.
Assistant Executive Engineer of Mymensingh Railway. Akram Ali said that the total number of railway crossings in Mymensingh cannot be said at the moment. However, its number is estimated to be more than two hundred. Among them, the rule is to have six gatemen in large crossings and three gatemen in small ones. But due to various reasons gateman is less in many places. Necessary action will be taken after looking into the matter.
Bangladesh Time: 1949 hours, April 24, 2024
RA
