A Leaky System: How Bureaucratic Inaction Cost a Life

The coroner’s finding in the Bikram Dangol case is a scathing indictment of Victoria’s bureaucratic machinery. Water leaking onto a busy road for months was met with apathy and finger-pointing until it was too late. The tragic death of 30-year-old Dangol, who lost control of his motorcycle on a patch of wet paint due to the leak, serves as a stark reminder that inaction can be just as deadly as malice.

The water leak on the M80 off-ramp at Laverton North was first reported by Winslow Construction’s safety co-ordinator, Mark Kelly, in May 2018. Despite multiple warnings and a subsequent visit from a Greater Western Water (GWW) employee, the issue remained unaddressed until the fateful crash that killed Dangol. The coroner’s report highlights the “absurdity” of the situation, where various organizations passed the buck on ownership of the water assets in question.

The leak was eventually rectified the same day as the collision, but only after someone died. As Bina Rajthala, Dangol’s widow, notes, “If steps had been taken on time… things would have been different, and he might be here with me.” The coroner recommends creating a shared asset register between water authorities in Victoria to prevent similar tragedies.

This case highlights deeper issues within the system. The delayed finding of the coroner’s report, which was finally released eight years after Dangol’s death, has caused immense distress to his family and prevented them from moving on with their lives. Matthew Naughtin, Dangol’s lawyer, notes that “The delayed finding not only stopped Dangol’s family from moving on, but also meant lessons are taking longer to be learnt.” The Coroners Court is working to reduce case time frames, but more needs to be done to address systemic problems.

In an era where accountability and transparency are emphasized, it is staggering that a water leak was allowed to persist for so long. Greater Western Water’s managing director Cameron FitzGerald’s statement that his organization is “working diligently with the Department of Transport” to implement the coroner’s recommendation rings hollow in light of the report’s findings.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of bureaucratic inaction. As Bina Rajthala poignantly puts it, “The justice delayed is justice denied.” It is time for Victoria’s public authorities to take responsibility and work towards creating a system that prioritizes accountability, transparency, and – most importantly – human life.

As we mourn the loss of Bikram Dangol, we must acknowledge the systemic failures that led to his death. Addressing these failings is crucial to preventing similar tragedies from occurring in the future. The question remains: will it take another life lost for us to learn from this tragedy?