Railway operator, Central East African Railways (Cear) has intensified awareness campaigns in schools and communities along the railway line to effect behavioural change.
The development follows three fatal accidents involving three men who were run over by a train at different places for the past three months.
It is alleged that the three men- two in Blantyre and one in Mchinji- were drunk and found themselves lying in the rail tracks, where the train run on them.
Cear Communications and Corporate Image Manager, Chisomo Mwamadi, said the development is unfortunate considering that the company strive for safety operations at all costs.
“It is suspected that these men were drunk and decided to sleep in the tracks. This is bad considering that three lives have been lost this year, while last year we only had two injuries. This is why we have stepped up sensitisation meetings and we have already been to Mlanga Primary and Dziwe Community Day Secondary Schools in Balaka. The exercise will be extended to all other areas along the railway line,” said Mwamadi.
He said the programme is being done jointly with Valley Logistics Limited who also uses the same railway for their operations.
“There is need to effect behavioural change because the railway line is now becoming busy and if there is poor judgement of the oncoming train, then it will be more disastrous. However, as a company, we will not allow this to continue happening as we promote safe operations both to our staff and the community at large,” he said.
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