Lumajang Deadly Accident, Dirlantas Polda Jatim: Crossing A Mandatory Train With Doors

Officers of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Daop 7 Madiun conducted maintenance of a number of train lines located at several field crossings/ANTARA/HO-Humas Daop 7 Madiun

SURABAYA - Director of Traffic (Dirlantas) of the East Java Police, Kombes Komarudin, emphasized that every railroad crossing (KA) must be fitted with signs and windows.

"The regulation refers to a circular letter from the minister of transportation," said Komarudin, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 20.

Based on data from the East Java Regional Police, in early 2023 there were 734 railroad crossings that had no windows.

Since January 2023, a doorstop procurement has been proposed in collaboration with the East Java Provincial Transportation Service and involves regional heads in districts and cities throughout East Java.

Komarudin explained that the number of crossings in the field of trains without latches continued to increase along with the growth of people who created new settlements with access roads intersecting with railroad crossings.

The problem is, to build a doorstop at a railroad crossing, it costs a lot depending on the area.

At a level crossing that is not too wide in the East Java region, at least a fee of Rp. 300 million is required. In fact, this figure could reach billions of rupiah if the crossing area is very wide.

The high cost constraints caused the procurement of latches at a level crossing that had been recorded by the East Java Regional Police to stall.

One of them actually caused an accident that killed 11 victims of Surabaya City residents during the minibus that the dozens of passengers were traveling in after attending a reunion in Banyuwangi.

The minibus passes at a railroad crossing without a doorstop in the Klakah District, Lumajang Regency, East Java, on Sunday (19/11).

Komarudin revealed specifically in the Lumajang Regency area, there were 12 railroad crossings without latches.

"Some are in the process of being installed with a doorstop and it still takes time to finish it," he said.

Until now, continued Komarudin, the crossing of a plot of KA without latches in the East Java region continues to decline.

"This means that the process to complete every level crossing with the doorstop continues. Of course, we will see further later for its implementation in the field," he said.

The East Java Regional Police also stated that they were still investigating the accident at the railroad crossing that killed 11 people.

Although the suspect has not yet been named, because the investigation process is ongoing, PT Jasa Raharja has disbursed life insurance for all the heirs or families of the victims who died, Monday afternoon, each of whom received compensation of Rp. 50 million.