One person errs, hundreds suffer.

The electronically operated iron barrier at the rail crossing at Ketaribagan in Chutia, Ranchi, is frequently developing technical snags, thanks to its manhandling by people rushing to cross the tracks. Such kind of careless commuters not only invite accidents for themselves but also create problems for others as the rod often gets stuck. As a result, other commuters have no other option but to wait at the crossing, which already witnesses traffic congestions round the year, till technicians come and lift the barrier.

Several such incidents have taken place at the Chutia crossing (gate No. 27 between Muri and Hatia stations), the latest one occurring on Thursday night when a motorcyclist tried to forcefully push the iron bar up so that he could quickly cross the tracks before the arrival of the train.

"The iron bar immediately developed a glitch. It could not be lifted by pressing the switch inside the gate handling cabin. I called maintenance staff from Ranchi railway station and although it was lifted in around half an hour and the vehicles passed, repairs took around three hours," said the lone gateman at the crossing on condition of anonymity.

The gateman, who was at the cabin around 1pm on Friday to check whether the barrier was functioning properly, added this was the third time in 10 days that the rod had to be repaired.

"We wish an RPF man was deputed here to instil fear among the people and they would stop manhandling the gate. It is not possible for me to stop this nuisance," he added.

Asked how can the RPF prevent such incidents, he pointed out, "Yesterday (Thursday), luckily, I had a colleague, who helped me catch the man on bike. We handed him over to the RPF. It will send a strong message to those violating rules."

Arrest or no arrest, violation of rules continued unabated at the crossing on Friday as well.

Even while the iron rod was being brought down before the arrival of Hatia-Dhanbad passenger train around 1.25pm, men on motorbikes raced to pass the tracks. Rickshaws and pedestrians too did not bother to pay heed to the safety signs.

"Accidents are bound to happen when people overlook safety measures," said the gate man.

Rajiv Yadav, senior divisional security commissioner of Ranchi, admitted to the risks created by humans themselves at the Ketaribagan crossing.

"Imagine, for one person's hurry, thousands get punished and get stranded. We keep on generating awareness, but people have to understand that whatever precautionary measures we take are for their safety. Our unit will kick-start an awareness drive soon to make people understand the need to obey railway crossing rules and not to manhandle the crossing gates," he said.