Train Rams Bus: Rail probe blames RHD, gateman, bus driver

The gatekeeper of Joypurhat's Puranpoil level crossing failed to lower the gate on time as he was either sleeping or drowsy, causing the accident that left 12 people dead and eight others injured, a railway probe found.

Holding gateman Nayon Miah main responsible for the accident, the committee has recommended his removal from the job. Nayon, who was recruited under a railway project, has already been suspended.

The committee also blamed the bus driver and the Roads and Highways Department for the accident.

The four-member probe committee, led by Nasir Uddin, divisional transport officer (Paksey) of Bangladesh Railway (BR), submitted their report on Saturday night.

They also made several recommendations to prevent recurrence of such accidents, Nasir told The Daily Star yesterday.

The accident happened around 7:00am Saturday when intercity train Uttara Express from Dinajpur was on its way to Rajshahi, said police, quoting locals.

Even though the train was approaching, the bus, which was heading towards Dinajpur's Hakimpur, tried to go over the lines finding the gate open, they said.

The train then hit the bus and dragged it for around 300 metres.

PROBE FINDINGS

Nasir Uddin said gatekeeper Nayon was on duty when the accident happened.

"He was there [level crossing]. But he told us that he could not hear the sound of a train approaching," said Nasir, adding, "He was either sleeping or drowsy. So, he could not lower the gate on time," he added.

The bus driver, who was killed in the accident, was supposed to cross the level crossing slowly and carefully, but it seemed he did not do that, so he was also responsible for the accident.

Besides, the RHD, without informing the railway authorities, demolished the speed breakers near the level crossing while reconstructing the road, he said.

"If there was a speed breaker, the driver would have had to slow down and the accident might not have had happened. So, the RHD can't avoid its responsibility," he said.

He said they have made four recommendations, including installation of telephone lines at all level crossing gates, so that station masters can inform gatekeepers about train approaching beforehand.

They also suggested installing "approach bells" at all level crossings so that people can be aware of train approaching.

MANY CROSSINGS NOT MANNED 

Although many level crossings are unauthorised and do not have dedicated gatemen, Puranpoil level crossing is an authorised and manned one, the rail authorities said.

Out of 1,468 authorised level crossings, only 564 have dedicated manpower, according to railway documents.

Moreover, there are 1,200 unauthorised level crossings under the 3,018km railway networks in the country, the documents show.

At least nine government bodies were involved in constructing unauthorised level crossings, with the Local Government Engineering Department having constructed the highest 427 gates.

They have constructed such level crossings without taking permission from the railway authorities and do not have dedicated gatekeepers, resulting in frequent accidents, said officials.

The BR authorities on several occasions wrote to these agencies, and some cases were filed against the authorities concerned, but situation did not change, they added.

Some 91 train accidents took place during 2018-19 fiscal year. Of them, 78 were for train derailments and 10 for trains crashing into things, according to railway information book-2019.

Asked about the unmanned level crossings, Mihir Kanti Guha, general manager (west) of BR, said recruitment in BR remained halted for several years after its recruitment rules was repealed, leading to manpower shortage.

However, new recruitment rules have already been approved and recruitment of manpower will start soon, he added.

About the illegal level crossings, he said on many occasions they wrote to the authorities concerned, but they are least bothered about it.

However, the LGED, in a recent inter-ministerial meeting, agreed to take prior permission to construct level crossings, he added.

Besides the LGED, no other agencies are yet to respond, he added.