India
oi-Ashish Rana
An horrific accident news is coming from West Bengal where three people, including two schools students, were killed in a local train collide with pool car at railway crossing at Murshidabad district on Friday morning. The incident took place when the car was trying to cross the railway crossing and was struck by an incoming train at Karna Subarna railway station. The vehicle was carrying students to drop them to school. Now railway officials have launched an investigation into the matter as the concern is that the local officials are saying that level-crossing gate was open at the time of accident.
Three people, including two school students, died in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Friday morning when a local train collided with a school pool car at a railway crossing near Karna Subarna station, with an investigation underway into why the level-crossing gate was reportedly open.
How the Accident Unfolded Near Karna Subarna Railway Station
The accident took place around 7 AM on the Karna Subarna station of Eastern Railway network, which is about 48 KM away from Katwa.
According to the railway authority. the pool car was taking school children to school when it entered the railway crossing and got hit by the local train passing the track.
“The pool car, carrying the students to school, was crossing the rail lines at the level crossing gate near Karna Subarna station, about 48 km from Katwa, when the local train hit the vehicle,” an Eastern Railway official said.
The way the vehicle and train collided, it turned the vehicle so badly damaged that images of the vehicle shows that it was totally crushed. The vehicle has found while its windows shattered, windshield broke and roof of the vehicle is torn apart. Locals immediately responded to the incident and tried to rescue who were trapped inside the vehicle. The injured were shifted to Karnasubarna Block Hospital for the further treatment.
This accident also affected the train services on Azimganj-Katwa section of Eastern Railway’s Howrah division, while rail network has disrupted, the authority is doing rescue work and inspection of the accident site.
Why the Open Railway Gate Is Central to the Investigation
Now the whole investigation has reached a point to know was the railway crossing level being operated following the railways norms or not?
The local residents have said that the railway crossing gate had opened when the school vehicle tried to cross it. Even the railways officials have told PTI that the gates were open during the accident. After the accident, railways officials have said that the gateman has been arrested on duty.
Railways have formed a 10 member investigation team to know what exactly happened and what led to this collision. The team is going to check the functioning of the crossing gate which led to the collision. They will also identify the statements of the railways officials and eyewitnesses, whether there was any negligence or violation of rules.
The investigation is still going on and the railways officials have not announced the major cause of the accident yet.
Why Railway Crossing Safety Continues to Be a National Concern
The railway crossing is one of the most vulnerable points of India’s railways network because it is the place where vehicles, locals and trains crosses the same path. Over the last few years, Railways have spend a huge amount of investment in the unmanned crossing with giving responsibility to man their. They have tried every possible attempt to save the accidents and increase safety.
Now if the accident happens at man controlled crossings that means either the safety system has collapsed or the rules were not followed. Now every single accident is being investigating to know what actually happened and who is accountable for the accident. With that Railways tried to take the lessons to follow in the future.
Now this Murshidabad accident is one more addition to the investigation and discussions about improving the railway crossing security and safety. To Make sure that the rules and regulations of railway safety are being followed or not.
Compensation Announced as Probe Continues
Railways have already announced the ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the families who have their lost their lives in the accident. Union minister Sukanta Manjumdar has mentioned that deaths of children are painful and called a serious investigation in the matter.
“Any loss of life is tragic, but the death of children is even more heartbreaking. A thorough inquiry is necessary, and I believe the Railways will conduct a separate investigation,” he said.
Now the results of the investigation will reveal whether any railway official failed to comply the rules or it’s the safety rules which needs to be changed. For the families who have lost their children and family members are expecting a truthful investigation that reveals what actually happened when it was a daily routine for the school vehicle.
