Writ seeks HC directive on risky rail lines, bridges

A Supreme Court  lawyer today filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking its directive on the government to conduct a survey to identify the risky and damaged rail line and rail bridges across the country.

Advocate Amit Das Gupta submitted the petition and prayed to the HC to order the government to take steps for repairing, reforming and preserving the rail lines and rail bridges of the survey report.

In the petition he challenged the inaction of the government in this regard. Citing from the writ petition Advocate Gupta said that the railway department is responsible for preserving, reforming and repairing the rail line, rail way bridge and other railway structures as per the Railway Act 1890, but the authorities have not taken adequate steps in this regard. Therefore, the rail accidents are taking place  and people are dying.

In the petition he annexed the media report about the railway accident taking place at Brahmanbaria recently.

Amit Das Gupta said the High Court may hold hearing on the writ petition on next Sunday.

On Sunday, four people, including three women, were killed and more than 100 injured as a passenger train derailed on a bridge in Moulvibazar.

One of the carriages of the Upaban Express, heading to the capital from Sylhet, fell into a canal while two others fell close to the canal’s banks. Several other carriages were also derailed. The incident happened at Boromchal in Kulaura upazila.

On the next day of the accident, Rail Secretary Mofazzal Hossain mentioned those two possible causes -- faulty lines or misaligned carriage wheels -- for the accident.