NHRC sends notice to Chairman, Railway Board for a report on the death of train passengers in Bihar following collapse of an over bridge
New Delhi, December 11, 2006
The National Human Rights Commission has sent notice to the Chairman, Railway Board on the recent accident in Bihar where an over bridge fell on a train, killing 37 people. Taking suo-motu cognizance of a news report which said that Ulta Pul road bridge was waiting to cave-in any moment, the Commission said if the contents of the report are true, they raise serious issue of violation of human rights of the passengers. The report published in 'The Hindustan Times' dated December 2, 2006 also said that a part of the bridge had been dismantled by the railways but the trains were allowed to ply beneath it in violation of railway safety norms. The report further said that three years ago, the over bridge, developed cracks due to heavy traffic load.
The Commission also took note of another report which appeared in 'The Times of India' on December 4, 2006 which said FIR had been lodged against four railway officials while the death toll rose to 38. The paper cited the Eastern Railway General Manager as saying that the old over-bridge was not a distress bridge and was not in a fatal stage. The report also added that way back in 1962, the 150 year old bridge was declared totally unsafe.
The Commission has directed that copies of the news items be sent to the Chairman, Railway Board for his comments/report within two weeks.
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The National Human Rights Commission has sent notice to the Chairman, Railway Board on the recent accident in Bihar where an over bridge fell on a train, killing 37 people. Taking suo-motu cognizance of a news report which said that Ulta Pul road bridge was waiting to cave-in any moment, the Commission said if the contents of the report are true, they raise serious issue of violation of human rights of the passengers. The report published in 'The Hindustan Times' dated December 2, 2006 also said that a part of the bridge had been dismantled by the railways but the trains were allowed to ply beneath it in violation of railway safety norms. The report further said that three years ago, the over bridge, developed cracks due to heavy traffic load.
The Commission also took note of another report which appeared in 'The Times of India' on December 4, 2006 which said FIR had been lodged against four railway officials while the death toll rose to 38. The paper cited the Eastern Railway General Manager as saying that the old over-bridge was not a distress bridge and was not in a fatal stage. The report also added that way back in 1962, the 150 year old bridge was declared totally unsafe.
The Commission has directed that copies of the news items be sent to the Chairman, Railway Board for his comments/report within two weeks.
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