BISWANATH CHARIALI, Nov 25 - The only railway track that passes through the Biswanath district on the north bank of the Brahmaputra connecting Murkongselek and Naharlagun with the rest of the State and country, has become a �killer railway track� as around ten persons have lost their lives in the recent past. According to information, several accidents and other incidents have taken place in between Biswanath Chariali railway station and Gohpur railway station so far in 2016.
A severely wounded body was recovered near Buroi Railway Bridge in April. Another body of a train passenger was found at Geruabari village near Biswanath Chariali railway station a few months back which still remains a mystery. The bodies of two youths were found lying near the railway track in September. The two were reportedly returning home after attending Manasa Puja at Buroighat. Similarly, another body was recovered at no. 2 Baralimara village near Bihmari, Bedeti in October. Very recently, four teenagers were knocked to death by the Guwahati-Murkongselek Inter City Express on November 20 at Borgang.
Local people allege that rampant illegal selling of local-liquor and Arunachal-made liquor near the railway stations and railway tracks at several places is the main reason behind these accidents because the dead persons were often found intoxicated. People have expressed their grave concern over the matter as there are so many government departments to look after such type of forbidden activities. They felt that mainly youths fall prey to such illegal activities which leads to the loss of valuable human lives.
Small denomination shortage: Despite Government�s steps to ease the situation arising out of demonetisation, shortage of small denomination has been hitting the common people badly at several places in the Biswanath district.
People said that the local branches of the nationalised and private banks in most of the cases are disbursing only Rs 2000 notes through exchange and withdrawal. As a result, it has become problematic for common men to transact any business as shopkeepers refuse to accept such a big denomination citing shortage of small denominations. People at places like Chatiya, Borgang, Bedeti, Halem, Gohpur, Kalabari in the district have been hit hard in large numbers. Traders also allege that their business has faced a sharp fall in the recent days due the shortage of Rs 500, Rs 100, Rs 50 notes. People have even failed to pay insurance premiums, loan EMIs, school fees, examination fees etc., as most of the common men do not possess cheque books. Moreover, barring the State Bank of India, the ATMs belonging to other banks, whether nationalised or private, are still closed in most of the places including Biswanath Chariali, Borgang, Halem, Gohpur etc. The affected people have urged the concerned authorities to pay heed to their woes at the earliest.
Ex-gratia paid: Cheques of Rs two lakh was paid to each kin of the four victims of the train mishap that had taken place recently at Borgang under Biswanath district on Saturday night. State Irrigation, Handloom and Textile Minister Ranjit Dutta distributed the cheques on behalf of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal among the next of the kin of the deceased teenagers namely Ganesh Munda, Ganesh Ghatowar, Suresh Gowala and Lakhinder Kalkamar of Rangagara Tea Estate at a meeting held in the Bagarisuti LP School. Minister Dutta also paid Rs 10,000 each to the families personally. Biswanath DC Asitaksha Chakravarty, Biswanath Circle Officer Sanjeev Dalai, among others, were present on the occasion.
