It's 'bhagwan bharose' for this railway crossing in Bihar
Every day, several women from Milkichak and Sarwarpur village, who go to nearby temple for their daily prayers have made it a point to perform a special "puja" at the railway track for the well being of their family and children.
Just 55 kms away from Patna in Athmalgola are Milkichak and Sarwarpur, two villages which are facing each other but are separated by a railway track which passes between these two villages. This mainline railway track connects Patna to Kolkata.
RAILWAY CROSSING TURNS INTO PUJA SPOT
Every day, several women from these two villages who go to nearby temple for their daily prayers have made it a point to perform a special "puja" at the railway track for the well being of their family and children. Offering prayers at the railway track sound intriguing but not without reason.
"Every day we come to the railway track and conduct puja here for the well being our our family members. This has become a daily exercise now", said Sumitra Devi, a local woman from Sarwarpur village.
HISTORY
Locals from these two villages recall how several years earlier, there used to be gate no.58 at the railway crossing but over the period of time the gate was damaged due to wear and tear. Since then, this railway crossing has remained unmanned with almost half a dozen people losing their lives each year while crossing the tracks.
CROSSING USED AS MEDIUM TO LOOK FOR GOD
Each day hundreds of people use this crossing for their work including school children who also are forced to cross this stretch of railway track to go to school. Repeated pleas of the villagers to railway officials, local legislator and Ministers have gone on deaf ears. Protests and fasting by locals for a gate at the crossing have gone futile. The lackadaisical approach from the railway officials and state govt has compelled local women to look up to "God" for their help.
"We have approached officials demanding a gate at this railway crossing but to no avail. Many people from both villages have lost their lives in last few years. The women now pray every day at the railway track to avert any incident", said Parmanand Singh Yadav, a local from Milkichak village.
It may be noted that according to the National Crime Record Bureau in 2014 suggests almost 2547 railway crossing accidents took place in which 2575 people lost their lives. The exercise undertaken by the villagers in these two villages should be an eye opener for the railways officials.
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