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Spare a thought for the elderly
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A train leaves the Angulana station
The platform at the Angulana railway station is a death trap. Passengers getting on and alighting at this station are forced to risk life and limb on a daily basis as the platform at this station is several feet below the compartment steps of the train.
After stepping down the compartment steps, passengers have no choice but to jump onto the platform, risking injury on every occasion. According to commuters several women and children have already sustained injuries while attempting to get down from the train onto the platform.
The situation is especially dangerous for pregnant women and the elderly, who cannot get on or off the train at this station without help from fellow passengers.
General Manager Sri Lanka Railways, S.M. Abeywickrama acknowledged the issue. He admitted similar problems of railway platforms not reaching the compartment steps had been reported from many other stations as well.
The GM said that steps had been taken to solve many of these problems with funds at the department’s disposal. He promised to resolve the problem of the Angulana station platform shortly.
Authorities at this station have not highlighted dangers posed to passengers using this station.
Railway authorities keep passing the buck, and make no effort to attend to simple tasks like raising the level of the platform.
Our picture shows the daily struggle passengers face to get on and off the train at the Angulana railway station. Yet, no effort has been made to raise the level of the platform...
Elderly passengers cannot get into the train unless helped by fellow-commuters
Our cameraman captured the substantial drop (circled) between the compartment steps and the station platform