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CoverStory

A preventAble rAil trAgedy

More than anything, Amritsar train state governments,
tragedy was the result of the failure of for which the Rail-
state government machinery, ways have been pay-
ing annual rentals
m.y. siddiqui writes (lagaan) to the states
and union territo-
am Leela celebrations during the ten-day ries. So the railway
long Dussehra festivals that culminated in tracks are its own
demon Ravan burning ritual at Dhobi Ghat, dedicated property.
R Chaura Phatak near Amritsar (Punjab) on Others using railway
October 19, 2018 evening where speeding Jallandhar- tracks without self-
Amritsar DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) train crushed precautionary safety
to death 62 people and injured over 70 persons was are obviously tres-
an avoidable tragedy that could not have happened. passers or encroach-
The train driver although was blowing whistle ers. If trespassers are
which the surging crowd of people along and on the run over by trains,
tracks could not hear because of high decibel noises, the Railways are not
excitement and rejoicings over the deafening sounds responsible. In this connection, the burden of safety
of bursting crackers out of the ritual of Ravan burn- is on the trespassers. No wonder, the Railways have
ing. Train driver did not take preventive action faced lodged FIR for trespassing its territory. That is why
as he was with difficult situation not of his making. Railways do not pay compensation in similar acci-
Braking a speeding train over a short distance is dents to the next of the kin of victims.
difficult and dangerous as in such case the train can As for accidents on the railways, there are various
jump off the rail and endanger lives of passengers, types of train accidents caused by human failure,
whereas foremost and primary duty of train driver track failure, mechanical failure, collision, untoward
in such situation is to ensure safety of passengers incidents like sabotage, bomb blasts etc., which are
inside the train. This is the cold truth. mentioned in the Railways Act, the Railways Safety
Prima facie it is a case of failure of state govern- Act and various rules and regulations. Accidents like
ment machinery to control a crowd with basic safety the Amritsar caused by trespassers or at rail cross-
norms. As stated, Ram Leela was held at the same ings caused by road users or by vehicular traffic are
venue in last several years, which could not accom- regulated by the Motor Vehicles Act, where Railways
modate more than 2,000 people. Local police had are not responsible for such accidents. The self-regu-
allowed up to 5,000 people to congregate there. latory by trespassers of rail tracks presumed to know
Several lapses in organisation of events like lack of self-protective, preventive and precautionary action
official inspection of the venue of events, provisions before crossing or using railway tracks.
of adequate security and disaster management were However, in our system of governance where
seen. Added to this, state government machinery people are the sovereign masters, the governments,
failed to recognise the contour of problems, such both Central and States, are responsive and account-
as, spilling of people on tracks, a purely man made able to the people prompting it to pay compensation
disaster, controlling crowd density, its monitor- generously to the victims’ families and those injured.
ing, availability of adequate medical and security Compensation of 5 lakh to the bereaved families
resources on site that could have played preventive for each of the precious life lost by the State Govern-
and mitigatory role. In this connection, a magisterial ment of Punjab and 2 lakh for each such victims
inquiry by the Punjab Government within a month by the Prime Minister (Union Government) is too
of the uncalled for accidents will reveal the truth. It meager and a pittance, making our democracy and
is learnt officially that guilty officials pinned down its responsiveness to the people a sham and there-
by the magisterial inquiry will be punished after due fore condemnable. Such accidents should not be
process of law. politicised. Nor should blame game be engaged in by
Well, in the scheme of the Constitution of different machineries of the Centre and State
India and the rule of law based system of democratic Governments, much less political parties!
governance, land is State Subject and trains run on
the tracks duly purchased by the Railways from the letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 november 2018 26 www.Tehelka.com

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