TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: Aggrieved over the accidental death of a 53-year-old woman who was hit by a running train, angry locals of Maxem and Galgibaga claimed that the woman would not have lost her life had state authorities addressed the long-pending demands of the locals.
The shortcut between Maxem and Galgibaga via the railway tracks is reported to have claimed the second life within three years, while locals claimed that two others had died previously after also being hit by moving trains.
Maxem Panch Santan Costa strongly criticized the ferry services commenced by the River Navigation Department (RND) between Maxem and Galgibaga, stating that the ferry services were of little help to the communities on both sides of the river.
“Ever since the RND commenced ferry services, we had requested the ferry to commence operations at 6 am. However, the first trip begins only at 6.30 am. If ferry services were available at 6 am, the tragic incident would have not taken place,” said Costa.
“Since ferry services are not available at 6 am, they are forced to take the alternate available route, which is along railway tracks near the KRC Bridge,” Costa added.
Added Kishore Naik, “After a man was hit by a train and died at the same site three years ago, the access (specially built steps along the Maxem side) for people to come on to the bridge was stopped for some time. The route was later re-opened following a strong demand by people in the locality.”
“Many school students regularly cross over the railway bridge, though these numbers have dwindled with the introduction of Bal-Rath school bus service,” Naik added.
Locals said they had been demanding a footbridge over the Galgibaga River, to enable people on both sides. A long-term solution, they added, would have been the twin bridges over the Galgibaga and Talpona rivers, a demand which has been long-pending before the State government.
