Title - Bihar Accident: Loco pilots association calls for building FoBs to prevent trespassers from walking

New Delhi: Expressing shock over the death of at least 30 pilgrims at ‘Dhamara Ghat’ station in Bihar on August 19 after the ‘Rajyarani Express’ ran over people standing on the tracks, the Association of Loco Pilots and Motormans of Indian Railways has attributed the accident to lack of passenger amenities like foot over bridges and subways and inability of authorities to prevent trespassers from walking on Railways tracks.

In a statement issued here, the association, while expressing deep shock and grief over the above accident, also strongly condemned the assault by the irate mob on the Loco Pilots. ”During run over incidents, the Loco Pilots are the first psychological victims. In many cases, unknown fate of the trespasser whether hit or escaped will be ringing in the minds of the Loco Pilot for some time,” it said.

Attributing the accident to lack of passenger amenities like foot over bridges and subways and inability of authorities to prevent trespassers from walking on Railways tracks, the association urged authorities to build foot over bridges or subway with ramp or escalators at user friendly locations at all stations which could be extended if necessary to places of mass people gathering like bus stops, schools, residential colony etc on both sides of the railway station.

It also called for rail and road safety awareness to be clubbed together and made from school level through visual media like cinema, CCTV systems etc. It also called upon authorities to prevent movement of trespassers on Railway tracks. ”As Railway tracks are neither footpath nor having zebra crossing Railway administration should prevent trespassing by enforcing the Railway Act and HLSRC recommendations are to be expeditiously implemented,” the association said.

On August 19, at around 0745 hrs, the Rajyarani express bound for Patna ran over people standing on the tracks, leading to death of at least 30 pilgrims.