Patna: Danapur division of the East Central Railway (ECR) has announced enhanced security measures around ponds and rivers located near railway tracks aiming to improve safety and prevent accidents along critical sections of the railways’ network in the state. The initiative comes in response to concerns about the increasing risks posed by natural water bodies in the vicinity of rail tracks at a time when thousands of devotees will turn up to offer obeisance to the sun God during Chhath on Thursday evening and Friday morning.
According to Danapur divisional railway manager (DRM) Jayant Kumar Choudhary, the railways has identified 73 places of water bodies like ponds, rivers and streams located near the rail tracks in the division. “They can become dangerous if not properly secured during Chhath celebrations,” he said, adding, “In a bid to address these issues, railways has decided to ensure fencing and deployment of additional railway security personnel to avert any possible mishaps on the tracks.”
In addition, patrolling and surveillance teams, including personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), will monitor the areas more frequently, especially during huge congregation of devotees nearby rail track ponds and rivers. Local communities living near railway tracks are being educated about the dangers of trespassing and the importance of keeping the areas around water bodies clear of the rush, the DRM said.
The Danapur division which has seen a steady rise in rail traffic over the years, has worked out a plan to check illegal crossings over tracks during the Chhath. The RPF personnel will be on the job to warn people at the most vulnerable places through mega phones while loco pilots have been directed to ‘go slow’ and ‘blow whistle’ while passing through such critical areas, he said, adding these water bodies are mostly located on each section of the division, including DDU-Bihta, Patna-Gaya, Kiul-Gaya, Bakhtiyarpur-Jhajha and Fatuha-Islampur routes.