Train accidents rise in recent years

Railway has over the years emerged as one of the most dependable modes of transport in terms of safety and cost effectiveness across the world, but the scenario is different for Bangladesh Railways (BR) thanks to multiple issues including age-old engines, shabby and rickety carriages, increasing number of accidents for poor maintenance and manpower crunch. The Independent has made a 5-part series report on the state-run organisation. The fourth part contains increasing number of train accidents in recent years.

Train accidents have increased in the country in recent years due to the lack of maintenance of railway tracks, equipment, railway bridges, level crossings and signalling systems, sources in Bangladesh Railways (BR) said. The major incidents draw media attention, but a large number of minor accidents occurring throughout the year go unnoticed, they added.

Data shows that at least 202 accidents took place in FY2018-19, leaving 26 people dead and 136 injured. The number of mishaps that occurred during the last fiscal year was more than that of the two previous years. A total of 89 incidents had taken place in FY2017-18 and 80 in FY2016-17. According to available data, most train accidents in the country were caused by derailment.

Altogether 2,988 train accidents took place in the last 12 years until June 30 this year. Of them, 2,522 were due to derailment, accounting for 84.40 per cent of the total number of accidents. Besides, in the 11 years till the end of FY2017–16 fiscal year, 305 incidents involved trains ramming into obstruction and 21 were due to collisions.

BR sources say that most of the fatal accidents took place at about 2,000 unauthorised level crossings across the country. Such level crossings have no gatemen and vehicles as well as people cross the tracks freely, resulting in fatal accidents. The sources say the number of deaths at unauthorised level crossings had increased alarmingly in recent years, but the authorities are not taking any steps.

About 89 per cent of the fatalities caused by train accidents happened at level crossings. Railways minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan admitted that 2,000 of the 3,200 railway level crossings in the country were unauthorised. He blamed the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and Roads and Highways Department for building unauthorised roads over the railways.

He said the permission of the BR had to be taken before constructing such roads and level crossings. "But most of them were built without any approval," he added. The minister said all unauthorised level crossings would be identified and made secure. He also said notices would be sent to those who built them without the consent of the BR.

Railway ministry’s secretary Md Mofazzel Hossain said poor maintenance of tracks and signalling errors were the main reasons behind derailments.

He said the ministry was taking steps to strengthen the maintenance work. BR Director General Md Shamsuzzaman refused to take any responsibility for the unauthorised level crossings. “Those who built the roads over railway lines without taking approval will have to take the responsibility. Please ask them why they have not taken any security measures,” he said.

The DG said the BR would identify the unauthorised level crossings and take necessary measures. He admitted that most of the derailments were being caused by track defects. He, however, added that there was an acute shortage of manpower in the department.

Additional Director General (operations) of BR, Md Miajahan, said though most of the railway accidents took place due to derailment, those were not serious and caused a few fatalities. He said the BR carried over 9.32 crore passengers in the last fiscal year, but only four people were killed in an accident through derailment at Moulavibazar on June 24.

He further said most of the derailments had occurred in the railway yards, causing no harm to people. He identified the bad shape of tracks and carriages, the running of trains at high speed and sudden breaking as the major causes of derailment.

Miajahan also said that most fatal incidents occurred at unauthorized level crossings. He said steps were being taken to reduce the number of derailments. The executive engineers of the various regions were working on the faulty tracks, instruments, point settings, mechanical systems and signalling systems, he added.

Among 80 railway accidents in FY2016-17, 44 were due to derailment. In FY2017-19, there were 64 incidents of derailment out of a total of 89 railway accidents. In FY2018-19, a total of 95 railway incidents took place. Among them, 63 were due to derailment.

 

Train accidents rise in recent years

Railway has over the years emerged as one of the most dependable modes of transport in terms of safety and cost effectiveness across the world, but the scenario is different for Bangladesh Railways (BR) thanks to multiple issues including age-old engines, shabby and rickety carriages, increasing number of accidents for poor maintenance and manpower crunch. The Independent has made a 5-part series report on the state-run organisation. The fourth part contains increasing number of train accidents in recent years. Train accidents have increased in the country in recent years due to the lack of maintenance of railway tracks, equipment, railway bridges, level crossings and signalling systems, sources in Bangladesh Railways (BR) said. The major incidents draw media attention, but a large number of minor accidents occurring throughout the year go unnoticed, they added. Data shows that at least 202 accidents took place in FY2018-19, leaving 26 people dead and 136 injured. The number of mishaps that occurred during the last fiscal year was more than that of the two previous years. A total of 89 incidents had taken place in FY2017-18 and 80 in FY2016-17. According to available data, most train accidents in the country were caused by derailment. Altogether 2,988 train accidents took place in the last 12 years until June 30 this year. Of them, 2,522 were due to derailment, accounting for 84.40 per cent of the total number of accidents. Besides, in the 11 years till the end of FY201716 fiscal year, 305 incidents involved trains ramming into obstruction and 21 were due to collisions. BR sources say that most of the fatal accidents took place at about 2,000 unauthorised level crossings across the country. Such level crossings have no gatemen and vehicles as well as people cross the tracks freely, resulting in fatal accidents. The sources say the number of deaths at unauthorised level crossings had increased alarmingly in recent years, but the authorities are not taking any steps. About 89 per cent of the fatalities caused by train accidents happened at level crossings. Railways minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan admitted that 2,000 of the 3,200 railway level crossings in the country were unauthorised. He blamed the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and Roads and Highways Department for building unauthorised roads over the railways. He said the permission of the BR had to be taken before constructing such roads and level crossings. But most of them were built without any approval, he added. The minister said all unauthorised level crossings would be identified and made secure. He also said notices would be sent to those who built them without the consent of the BR. Railway ministrys secretary Md Mofazzel Hossain said poor maintenance of tracks and signalling errors were the main reasons behind derailments. He said the ministry was taking steps to strengthen the maintenance work. BR Director General Md Shamsuzzaman refused to take any responsibility for the unauthorised level crossings. Those who built the roads over railway lines without taking approval will have to take the responsibility. Please ask them why they have not taken any security measures, he said. The DG said the BR would identify the unauthorised level crossings and take necessary measures. He admitted that most of the derailments were being caused by track defects. He, however, added that there was an acute shortage of manpower in the department. Additional Director General (operations) of BR, Md Miajahan, said though most of the railway accidents took place due to derailment, those were not serious and caused a few fatalities. He said the BR carried over 9.32 crore passengers in the last fiscal year, but only four people were killed in an accident through derailment at Moulavibazar on June 24. He further said most of the derailments had occurred in the railway yards, causing no harm to people. He identified the bad shape of tracks and carriages, the running of trains at high speed and sudden breaking as the major causes of derailment. Miajahan also said that most fatal incidents occurred at unauthorized level crossings. He said steps were being taken to reduce the number of derailments. The executive engineers of the various regions were working on the faulty tracks, instruments, point settings, mechanical systems and signalling systems, he added. Among 80 railway accidents in FY2016-17, 44 were due to derailment. In FY2017-19, there were 64 incidents of derailment out of a total of 89 railway accidents. In FY2018-19, a total of 95 railway incidents took place. Among them, 63 were due to derailment.