The New Indian Express of August 23, 2010, reports of a major train accident averted in Howrah (quoting South Eastern Railway officials and PTI). Two trains moving in opposite directions came on the same tracks, when the driver of a train apparently overshoot a signal. The incident occurred - no, no, night during night or midnight - during day time, 3.20 pm to be precise. One wonders how a signal can be overshot. What is going on? You may recall the ghastly train accident when many people met with gruesome death, when a train disregarding signals and warning announcements, rammed into a stationary train not long ago. People who are responsible for that will ever be apprehended? How such people are entrusted with responsibilities endangering the lives of hundreds of people? Is the Railway going to probe deep into it and punish the culprit/s? Or will it be covered up? With frequent cracks in rails, train robberies and carelessness, one wonders how safe rail travel is. Further, I wonder why in our country, people in power always want to cover up things instead of exposing culprits and punishing them? When somebody commits a misdeed he should be severely punished; otherwise it will be an encouragement to further misdeeds. Severe punishments would only act as deterrent, will it not?
My friend to whom I read out the above report says that people in power don't want to antagonise powerful unions and associations and you know, in this country, except rapists, murderers and robbers, everybody else has a got the support of some strong union or association and these unions and associations are usually headed by some powerful politician. No wonder cover up or hushing up is preferred to probing and punishing!
Grateful thanks to PTI and The New Indian Express.
