West Bengal Youth Detained for Obstructing Train with Motorcycle at Level Crossing

Synopsis

A 23-year-old man was arrested in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, for leaving his motorcycle at a level crossing, causing a train to crash into it. This dangerous act led to significant service disruptions and raised concerns over passenger safety.

Key Takeaways

A youth was arrested for leaving a motorcycle on train tracks.
The incident occurred at a busy level crossing in West Bengal.
Charges include obstructing rail movement and endangering lives.
The Railway Board is enforcing stricter regulations against such acts.
The event highlights the need for better safety measures at crossings.

Kolkata, April 3 (NationPress) A 23-year-old individual has been taken into custody by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal for abandoning his motorcycle on the tracks at a level crossing situated between the Sonarpur and Champahati stations. This led to a train colliding with the two-wheeler, which resulted in a halt of services, according to officials.

The incident took place on March 27.

“We are addressing this situation with utmost seriousness. This reckless act could have potentially caused a derailment. Furthermore, since the motorcycle contained petrol, it posed a fire risk that could have endangered passengers. We have filed charges against the individual under various sections of The Railways Act, 1989,” stated a senior official from Eastern Railway (ER).

The individual, named Sudipta Mistry, hails from Purba Mali Pukuria in Sonarpur. After evading capture for six days, he was apprehended on Wednesday evening. He faces charges for obstructing rail operations and jeopardizing passenger safety, which could lead to a two-year prison sentence.

“We are investigating the motives behind his actions. Even if the motorcycle was stalled, he could have simply moved it away from the tracks. Perhaps it was a misguided prank. Previously, there have been multiple incidents where individuals placed various objects, such as steel bars and gas cylinders, on the tracks to create viral content for social media. Some of those involved have been arrested. The Railway Board has explicitly stated that such behavior will not be tolerated,” the official remarked.

The Canning Section of the Sealdah Division of the ER, where the event occurred, is notably busy, managing substantial suburban traffic. The ER has made strides to eliminate as many level crossings as feasible, replacing them with Road Over Bridges (ROBs) or underpasses. However, this has not been achievable everywhere due to insufficient road traffic volumes to justify construction costs or complications with land acquisition.

Some railway officials, especially from the traffic department, have suggested that more stringent laws are necessary to deter such incidents. The delay of a single train can create a ripple effect, impacting the entire section, ultimately inconveniencing passengers.