The recent accident that happened near Bongaigaon also happened at an un-authorised crossing leading to death of two people.
Guwahati
NF Railway is facing the menace of having un-authorised railway crossings spreading almost throughout its jurisdiction. The presence of such un-authorised crossings is posing a big threat to safety of train movement and to the safety of the people who cross them.
It is to be mentioned that all though N.F. Railway has eliminated all the un-manned level crossing gates in its jurisdiction, there are still 628 locations of un-authorised trespass. While level crossings are designated spots which are designed to facilitate the safe passage of road vehicles, the un-authorised crossings are which locals build across the track where the trains are not supposed to slow down.
As these crossings are not adequately protected, there have been a number of deaths due to dashing of road vehicles by speeding trains. Since these are not designated crossings, people who suffer injury or loss of life while crossing are not entitled to any form of compensation from railway side.
The recent incident of accident that happened on 27.01.2019 at 9-50 am between Basugaon and Dangtol station at km 245 / 7-8 near Bongaigaon also happened at an un-authorised crossing leading to death of two people and serious injury to another apart from affecting train movements. In this accident road vehicle no AS-19-AC-1136 (Tata Magic) collided with 15647 Up (Lokmanya Tilak Terminous – Guwahati Express).
These un-authorised crossings have become a major cause of accidents putting the life of train passenger at stake. Out of the total 628 of such un-authorised crossings within N.F. Railway, 374 are in Assam, 194 are in West Bengal and 60 are in Bihar. Of the 374 un-authorised crossings in Assam, 263 are in Tinsukia Division, 76 are in Rangiya Division, 24 are in Lumding Division and 11 are in Alipurduar Division. Of the 194 un-authorised crossings in West Bengal, 146 are in Katihar Division, 48 are in Alipurduar Division. 60 un-authorised crossings in Bihar are within Katihar Division.
At a time when sectional speeds of trains are being increased and more and more high speed premium trains are being run, such trespassing have posed a major threat to train safety too. Loss of punctuality is also a result of such trespassing as trains have to be slowed down regularly at some of these locations.
