A recent escalator incident at Surasak Station on the BTS Skytrain that resulted in 27 injuries should serve as a wake-up call about the flawed safety measures in Bangkok's rail transport system which several hundred thousand commuters rely on daily.
The incident took place on the evening of Aug 20 when dozens of passengers fell backwards as the escalator was ascending to the concourse.
The system was reported to have been unusually crowded as groups of teenagers who attended a concert at nearby Bangkok Christian School were taking the train home amid heavy rain.
The incident also raises an important question about the agency's emergency response capability.
In a press release, the train operator said some passengers at the top of the escalator "slipped, causing those below to fall down" and that the escalator had not malfunctioned as was previously reported by some media.
But describing them as only "minor injuries" and claiming the incident was "beyond its control", the agency is clearly guilty of passing the buck and making irresponsible excuses.
At least one family whose relation was seriously hurt came up with another account, saying the severity of people's injuries varied greatly.
Apparently, those who were at the bottom of the escalator suffered from a human pile-up.
The family said it appeared the station's concourse was too crowded and passengers at the top of the escalator could not get off, causing them to topple backwards.
Had security staff been there to better control the crowd, such a horrible crush could have been avoided.
Instead of mentioning that someone slipped, the operator should look into its failure to regulate such a large crowd. The absence of security staff at the trouble spot warranted more complaints.
If the escalator had been stopped sooner, there may have been fewer injuries. Interestingly, the BTS's statement says the escalator can be stopped simply by pressing an emergency button located on it.
Yet that can only be used when there are no passengers currently using it -- a bizarre rule that begs the question: What is the practical purpose of this button?
Crammed platforms at BTS stations seem to be an inevitable fact of life in Bangkok, especially if a train breaks down or passengers accumulate too quickly.
However there should be precautions in place to eliminate the risks associated with over-crowded escalators and other emergencies.
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt inspected Surasak Station that fateful night just after the incident.
He expressed relief that there was no system malfunction, but rather the incident was something of a freak occurrence due to the sudden gathering of such an unexpectedly large crowd of people.
The Bangkok governor should not be overly complacent, however. First, he should demand a full report from the train operator and inspect all of the surveillance footage to clearly identify for himself exactly what went wrong, and why.
Moreover, the governor could take steps to ensure that all the pre-existing safety loopholes are fixed. These perhaps include a current atmosphere that is overly tolerant of certain violations of safety regulations, for example the rule stating that passengers are prohibited from leaning against the doors of train carriages.
When it comes to public safety, there can be no compromises.
