Title - Setback to efforts to install rail warning device

Lack of uninterrupted power supply in Kerala was hampering the initiative by Railways to install Train Warning Actuated Devices (TWAD) to bring to an end the loss of lives at level crossings, said G. Narayanan, additional general manager of Southern Railway.The warning device, which would sound a beep to alert those at level crossings of approaching trains, could be made operational only if there was uninterrupted power supply to maintain efficacy of the gadgets, he said.

Awareness campaign
The gadget cannot be operated on alternative means of energy such as solar power, which could vary with the vagaries of weather, Dr. Narayanan said, while addressing a ‘Safety Awareness Campaign on Level Crossings,’ at a function hosted by the Palakkad Division of the Southern Railway at the Kasaragod railway station on Saturday. A large number of people, including students, took part in the function held on Platform 1 of the Kasaragod railway station.Dr. Narayanan said most of the accidents at level crossings involved drunk or rash driving by motorists. He said the authorities concerned should take necessary steps to conduct periodic health check-up of vehicle drivers. At present, there was no mechanism to check the health and vision power of the drivers after they were issued licences for a certain period.

Call for strict action

Inaugurating the function, P. Karunakaran, MP, cautioned against crossing railway tracks, especially during peak hours. He said stern action should be taken against those who violated the rules.

The Scout and Guide volunteers of Palakkad Railway Division enacted a skit to build awareness underscoring the need to observe requisite safety norms while crossing manned and unmanned level crossings.

Piyush Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager; P.S. Mohammed Sagir, District Collector; and James Sebastian, PRO, Palakkad Railway Division; also attended the programme.