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Railways’ 750 blood-gates: 48 crossings to get gates by year’s end
As eight people died in two horror crashes at level crossings this week, the Department of Railways announced it will construct gates at 48 unprotected crossings by the year’s end. Railways Operating Superintendent L.A.R. Rathnayake told the Sunday Times there were 750 unprotected railway crossings island-wide and the department would call for tenders to construct gates at 200 of these at a cost of Rs. 4 million each.
Until then, the department would install temporary humps and mirrors at unprotected crossings.There are around 1,083 level-crossing around the country, of which 85 have automatic rail gates, 113 mechanical gates , 28 farm gates, 87 bell-and-light gates and 149 bamboo gates.
In 2012, there were 83 accidents at level crossings with12 deaths reported; in 2011, there were 82 accidents with eight deaths, and in 2010, 75 accidents with 11 deaths.This week, two accidents were reported at unprotected crossings at Aluthgama and Mirigama.
On Tuesday (June 25), six females were killed when a van filled with Poson pilgrims collided with a fast-moving train at an unprotected crossing near the Aluthgama railway station at 7. 30 p.m. Police said they were residents of Dodangoda, Kalutara.
The van had been dragged about 200m and ended up in a stream after hitting the train, which was travelling from Maradana to Hikkaduwa. The driver of the van, who sustained minor injuries, was produced before the Kalutara magistrate and was out on bail. His wife and daughter are among the dead. Four other men are being treated for injuries at Nagoda Hospital in Kalutara.
On Friday (June 28), two men died on the spot when the van they were travelling in crashed into the Colombo-Badulla train at an unprotected crossing at Ambalawatte, Mirigama at 7.10am.
Statistics issued last year by the Railways Department show there are some 121 unprotected crossings on the Ragama-Puttalam railway line, 92 on the Polgahawela-Vavuniya railway line, 81 on Maho-Batticaloa line, 59 on Colombo-Badulla main line, 29 along the Kelani Valley from Maradana-Avissawella ,16 along Gal-Oya to Trincomalee and nine on Peradeniya-Matale line.
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