Accidents on the increase at rail crossings

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Railway Department paid special attention to the increasing number of motor accidents taking place at unprotected railway crossings very often and said that it is the duty of Local Government authorities to install either railway gates or signal lights.

Director Planning, Sri Lanka Railways, Wijaya Samarasinghe told the Sunday Observer that nearly 700 unprotected railway crossings are in the country and urged Local Authorities to install at least bamboo gates as temporary measures in order to prevent future train -vehicle collisions.

Samarasinghe also referred to two recent accidents that occurred at Batuwatta Railway crossing at Ragama where a 21 year old girl was killed and three others were injured.

According to Police, signal lights were on at the time of the accident at Batuwatta and it could have averted if at least bamboo gates were installed. In the second accident at Homagama on Monday, a lorry which transported cattle was hit by the Kelanivally train at an unprotected railway crossing. Both the driver and the cleaner were killed on the spot.

It is reported that about six train-vehicle accidents had occurred at unprotected railway crossings during the past two years. Among them two accidents had occurred on the coastal line between Panadura and Kalutara.

Samarasinghe also said due to the negligence of vehicle owners even accidents occurred at highly protected railway crossings and said that legal action was taken against vehicle drivers for using the railway crossings when the gates were closed.

Meanwhile, the Railway Department has taken steps to demolish unauthorised constructions including parapet walls, high rise buildings and houses which are in close proximity to railway crossings for the benefit of train drivers, motorists and pedestrians.