On October 27 around 4:30 p.m., seven pedestrians – five local residents and two visitors – narrowly escaped a fatal accident on the railway tracks at Thokkottu Olapete. Despite iron barriers set up by the railway department, the group climbed over and crossed one set of tracks. Suddenly, hearing a train’s horn, they froze in the middle of the tracks, only to realize another train was fast approaching from the opposite direction. Trapped between the two moving trains, a mix of women and children stood helplessly, praying for their lives.
A young visitor, shaken by the incident, recounted, “It was my first time visiting family in Thokkottu Olapete in years. The locals take this risky route daily, despite barriers, as a small gap allows pedestrians through. But within moments, trains were on both sides. Those few seconds felt like a lifetime.”
Following this close call, locals are urging the railway department to construct an underpass to prevent a potential tragedy. This crossing serves over 1,000 daily pedestrians, including students, workers, and elderly residents, in an area bustling with schools, places of worship, and businesses.
In August 2024, social activist Cyril D’Souza and the Ullal Student Union led a protest demanding an underpass. Ullal Nagarasabha member Dinakar Ullal highlighted a 40-year fight for a safe crossing. Despite appeals to MP Brijesh Chowta and Railway Minister V Somanna, no action has been taken.
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