Write a letter to the railway authorities bringing to their attention that the danger post by unmanned railway crossing citing the example of addition tragic accidents
Answers
The death of four persons, including a German couple, in an accident at an unmanned level crossing at S. L. Puram near Poopallikavu in Alappuzha district on Sunday has exposed the vulnerability of the 118 unmanned level crossings in Thiruvananthapuram railway division and the need to sensitise the road users to increase the safety in view of the mounting fatal accidents.
The gruesome accident involving the German tourists who were on a holiday in Kerala has come within one month after the railways had observed a week-long drive to coincide with the observation of International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) by the International Union of Railways.
A top railway official told The Hindu that the initial inquiry has revealed that the carelessness of the car driver resulted in the mishap. “The driver seems to have taken the vehicle into the railway track without looking right or left. He might have also been in haste as he was taking the German couple to a hospital and might have been unfamiliar with the section”, he said.
Initial inquiry by the railways have also revealed that the visibility was good in the stretch and that the loco pilot of the train bound for Alappuzha from Chennai followed all mandatory rules, including blowing of horn, while approaching the unmanned level crossing. Railway sources said this is the first fatal accident in the S, L. Puram level crossing gate.