Unguarded level crossings posing high risks of accidents

Some 56 out of 72 level crossings from Chattogram's Dohazari to Cox's Bazar railway line lacks either gates (barriers) or gatemen, and in some cases both, which leaves the crossings highly accident-prone.

According to the railway police, 30 people have died on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar rail route in the last 20 months. Of these, 17 people died last year and 13 died till August 2 this year.

The deceased victims were hit by the train at the rail crossings and while they were run over by the vehicle while crossing the rail tracks.

On August 02, four people, including three members of a family, died when a train hit an auto-rickshaw at a rail crossing in the Rashidnagar area of Ramu, Cox's Bazar. There was no gateman to guard the crossing although it was approved by the railway authorities.

Train accidents on the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar rail route have been increasing for people, elephants and cattle alike. On October 13, last year an elephant was hit by a train in the night.

The increase in the number of trains on the rail route has contributed to the rise in accidents. After the construction work of the 103.57-kilometer railway line was completed with the expenditure of Tk 113.35 billion in December 2023, a pair of trains operated on the route initially, whereas now four pairs operate.

Railway officials said despite the train operations on the route, the Ministry of Finance has not yet approved the required manpower. They also said, currently, temporary gatemen have been appointed under the project and arrangements to hire the necessary number of gatemen will be made after surveying the level crossings.

According to the railway project office, there are a total of nine sections on the new railway line. Of these, the Islamabad-Ramu section has the most level crossings. Of the 17 level crossings in this 17-kilometer section, only one has a gate and a gateman.

On April 7, a motorcyclist died when a train hit him as he was crossing an unprotected level crossing in the Palakata area of Eidgaon upazila of Cox's Bazar.

Abdul Malek, acting chairman of Rashidnagar Union of Ramu, said people have been demanding the installation of gates and appointment of gatemen at the unprotected level crossings in Sadar, Ramu and Eidgaon upazilas of Cox's Bazar. "But no work is being done. Local residents have written a letter to the divisional railway manager with a similar demand," he added. Moreover, only one of the eight level crossings in the Ramu-Cox's Bazar section has a gateman. Of the 12 level crossings within 13 km of the Dulahazara-Islamabad section, just one has a gateman. The 11 km Chakaria-Dulahazara section has 9 crossings, but only three have gatemen.

Only two out of four level crossings have barriers at the Harbang-Chakaria section, one out of five has barriers in the Lohagara-Harbang section, and three out of eight have barriers in the Satkania-Lohagara section. Apart from these, there is no gateman at four out of eight level crossing gates in the Dohazari-Satkania section and at one level crossing gates in the Hasimpur-Dohazari section.

Md. Sabuktagin, general manager of the Eastern Zone of the Railways and project director of the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar Railway Line Project, said, "All the level crossing gates of the newly built Cox's Bazar railway line are approved. While it was possible to provide manpower at some places, it was not possible in some cases. However, there are warning signs and plaques in front of all the gates."

"To make the Cox's Bazar railway safe, 46 underpasses have been built for the movement of people. Everyone should be aware of crossing the railway line safely without rushing. This will reduce accidents a lot. The engineering department will survey the level crossing where the accident occurred," the general manager also said. He added steps will be taken to approve gates and the appointment of gatemen if required. 

A level crossing that lacks gates at both sides of the road on a three-way road -- 200 meters west of Adhunagar High School in Lohagara, Chittagong -- has two warning signboards. One of those reads, "Caution! There is no gateman at this gate. Pedestrians and all types of vehicles will cross at their own risk. The railway authorities will not be responsible for any accident." Another reads, "'Caution! railway ahead."

However, during a visit on August 2 at 2 PM, pedestrians and drivers were seen unbothered by these warnings and had been crossing the railway tracks in a hurry despite hearing the whistle of an approaching train.

Morover, the train cannot be seen due to the trees and a bend of the tracks 200 meters north of the level crossing, that further increases the risk of accidents.

Locals complain that the trains are not visible due to the dense forest. Sometimes the drivers do not even blow the whistle and the lack of a gateman also raises the risk of accidents.

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