35 years at the level crossing: Ramazan Önal (45) with down syndrome, who lives in the district of Dörtyol in Hatay, shaves with the first light of the morning every day and walks one kilometer from the place where his house is to the level crossing with the hat he wears on his head.
Arriving at the point where the level crossing is located in Yeni Yurt Mahallesi, Önal is trying to help the vehicles to make controlled crossings with his own methods. Önal keeps watch in the hut built by Dörtyol Municipality to protect it from the sun in summer and from the cold in winter.
Offering his hat to the drivers and trains passing through the level crossing, Önal earns his living with 50 kurus or 1 lira given by the drivers. Ramazan Önal, who lives with his 80-year-old mother Sultan Önal, is loved by the citizens. Dörtyol Mayor Yaşar Toksoy told Anadolu Agency (AA) that Önal has been standing at the level crossing for many years and has won everyone's sympathy.
Stating that they built a wooden hut in Önal as the municipality, Toksoy stated that he kept watch at the level crossing from morning to night, guided and helped the vehicles and citizens passing by, and that the passers paid Önal a fee of 50 kuruş or 1 lira. He stated that Önal prevented many accidents, sometimes the barriers did not get off when the train passed, but Önal prevented major accidents by stopping the vehicles coming from both sides.
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