The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Tragedy on tracks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 19, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Tragedy on tracks

Sir, — The Matsyagandha Express' derailment is the second major tragedy on the Konkan Railway. Last year, over 50 people were killed when a train hit boulders on the tracks. The two accidents are a grim reminder of the lurking dangers on tracks passing through mountainous terrain. Improvement of safety measures should be taken up on a war footing.

B.H. Shanmukhappa,
Davanagere, Karnataka

Sir, — Landslips do occur on mountain railways. While more safety measures are welcome, easing out of hill slopes below five meters may affect the ecological balance. Fixing of sensors is a better alternative than meddling with nature, whose fury is unpredictable.

A. Ramanathan,
Chennai

Sir, — The post-accident safety inquiry should be handed over to a high-level committee that should be set up in the Prime Minister's Office.

Susamma Thomas,
Kollam, Kerala

Sir, — The tragedy reminds one of the Ariyalur train accident when the late Lal Bahadur Shastri was the Railway Minister. Though it was caused by a natural calamity, he owned responsibility and resigned.

S.V. Shrikanth,
Chennai

Sir, — Boulders falling on to the tracks is common during the monsoon, especially in the mountainous Konkan region. The authorities should have foreseen this and tightened the safety measures.

Indra Paranjothi,
Madurai, T.N.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

REDUCE NUCLEAR RISK WITH PAKISTAN

MOVEMENT IN DOHA ROUND

Crisis of representative democracy

Iraq: liberty only when U.S. leaves