IN Brahmanbaria’s Kasba, Dhaka-bound inter-city train Turna Nishita Express by breaching traffic signal hit Chattogram-bound another inter-city train Udayan Express on Tuesday leaving 16 people dead and injured another 70 people. The nation was shocked witnessing the fatality of the accident. Different quarters have raised voice for not modernising the train management system, and also for not up-gradating services. They further asked the authorities concerned to ensure training facilities for train drivers. Three coaches of Udayan Express went off the track on impact and got mangled, trapping many passengers inside. Though five committees have so far been constituted to investigate into the incident, preliminary investigation has already unearthed that non-professional attitudes and negligence of Turna Nishita’s driver and assistant were the prime reasons behind the accident.
After the crash, both the loco master of Turna Nishita Express and his assistant have been suspended. However, other factors that might have contributed to the accident should also be found out. We hope, the five committees would submit their reports as soon as possible. Between January 1 and June 30 this year, there have been at least 202 rail accidents that claimed 209 lives. Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF) has identified five major reasons behind the rise in rail accidents-use of mobile phones by pedestrians while crossing rail lines, lack of pedestrians’ awareness, negligence of railway employees, poor maintenance of level crossings, and poor maintenance of rail lines and bridges. All these factors should be addressed by the railway authorities to curb train accidents in future.
Railway used to be the safest mode of public transport. But over the years, Bangladesh Railway has lost its reputation because of incompetence, mismanagement and widespread corruption in the sector. The Tuesday’s accident is only a manifestation of administrative weakness run by a group of incompetent officials. Time is running fast. The government should immediately take necessary measures to turn the railway into a safe and reliable mode of transport.
