People still crawl under railway gates at crossings, risking lives

It’s a common sight to see commuters constantly flouting laws when it comes to railway level crossings of the city. It seems even news of death does not scare the violators, as they constantly put their lives in danger by jumping over or crawling under the gate along with their vehicles.
Level crossings have always been an integral part of Ludhiana. Whether it is Sarabha Nagar crossing or Shastri Nagar one, people have always preferred to jump the gun instead of waiting for thge train to pass. Ram Dyal, a gatekeeper of one the crossings, explains his plight, “I have been working here for about six years now, but the scenario has not changed much. We have tried everything — from putting up a danger board to shouting from the room, nothing seems to deter the violators. Sometimes, these people engage in an ugly spat with us. Mostly the rickshaw pullers and two-wheelers are the ones who take unnecessary risks with their lives.”
He said he watched in horror as a rickshaw puller lost his life few months ago. “It was a horrific sight, as his rickshaw got stuck and he lost his life. I wasn’t able to sleep for days.”
Even after such horrific incidents, it seems the administration does not want to wake up from the slumber. Another gateman at Sarabha Nagar crossing said: “Some strict rules should be made and implemented so that people think twice before ignoring the rules. The school near the Sarabha Nagar crossing makes it all the most vulnerable, as it poses a threat to many children, who are seen engaging in similar activities.”
TOI caught a student crossing in the sly. When asked why he would do this, especially in view of the accident on Saturday, Harmanpreet Singh said, “I was getting late for my tuition. I know this is dangerous, but I don’t take this risk regularly.”