Another probe body formed over the Mirsharai tragedy has found the microbus driver and the gateman of the level crossing responsible for the accident that claimed 13 lives on July 29.
Gateman Saddam Hossain is now behind bars while driver Golam Mostafa was among the 13 people who died in the accident.
To avoid similar incidents from reoccurring, the four-member committee made 11-point recommendations, including installing an automatic alarm or siren system at railway level crossings, said General Manager Jahangir Hossain of Eastern Region Railway.
Some of the railway's renovation work is set to begin with the LC gate as soon as possible in response to six recommendations in the departmental probe and eleven recommendations from the probe report submitted on Tuesday, he told Dhaka Tribune.
Those responsible for the Mirsharai accident would face legal action under the Railway Act, 1980, he added.
Additional Chief Engineer (Railway) Arman Hossain chairs the committee while Additional Chief Operating Officer Zakir Hossain, Additional Chief Engineer (Mechanical) Mostafa Zakir Hossain, and Additional Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer Tarek Md Shams Tushar are the remaining members.
According to the investigation committee, they have visited the scene and taken statements from residents and witnesses, as well as the train driver, conductor (guard), gateman, and those injured in the accident.
The recommendations include:
- Install automatic alarm or siren system at each level crossing.
- Install automatic gates at level crossings.
- Gatekeepers should dress in khaki uniform.
- CC cameras, land phone system, and electricity connection should be provided inside the gatekeeper's room.
- At least three gatekeepers should be stationed at level crossings in remote and inaccessible areas.
- They must be provided with housing.
- Illegal structures near the level crossing should be removed.
- Speed breakers before level crossing must be of low height.
Media campaigns must be done on how to safely cross level crossings
Earlier, on August 17, a five-member railway divisional-level probe committee held the gateman and driver responsible for the accident.
Thirteen people died when a speeding train rammed into the microbus carrying the tourists at a level crossing in Mirsharai upazila on July 29.
They met with the accident while returning home after visiting the popular waterfall in the hills of Mirsharai.