New Delhi: Since 2016, more than 2,000 people have died in train accidents in the Capital, data by Delhi Police has stated, adding that crossing unmanned tracks is the most common cause of casualties. Moreover, 18 suicides also took place since 2016.
To avoid such accidents, the Railway Police is enhancing patrolling and taking up the issue with other concerned agencies.
Data on accidental deaths, accessed by Millennium Post, stated that in 2016, 816 men and 82 women lost their lives in rail accidents. Last year, the numbers were 790 persons (695 men and 95 women. This year, till August 7, as many as 492 casualties – 457 men and 35 women – were reported.
Further analysis of the data revealed that within the jurisdiction of Indian Railways, over 800 persons died due of natural causes; 326 persons in 2016, 324 in 2017 and 194 so far this year. Moreover, since 2016, 18 suicides – 17 men and one woman – also took place within railway jurisdiction.
The most recent accidental death was reported on Wednesday at New Delhi Railway station, where 45-year-old Shilpi Samragi died after she came under the wheels while trying to deboard a moving train.
Police said that Shilpi and her husband Manish were going to board a Patna-bound train from the station, but mistakenly boarded a wrong one.
When the train departed, they realised their mistake and they tried to get down from the moving train. However, the two lost their balance, and while Manish fell on the platform his wife fell under the train.
The train was immediately stopped and the couple was rushed to a nearby hospital, where the woman was declared brought dead.
In another incident, a Railway Protection Force (RPF) sub-inspector posted in east Delhi post was found dead on the tracks in Shakur Basti on Wednesday. Police suspect that he was hit by the train while trying to cross the track.
Most slum clusters are close to the railway tracks and residents in the area often cross tracks, sometimes in the dark, and are hit by oncoming trains," said the police officer.
During a recent security audit, the police found that in five railway stations people often enter unnoticed into the station premises through tracks. This too leads to several accidents and is a major security challenge for authorities.
Delhi Police has written to RPF pointing out the unattended points where security should be increased.
Joint Commissioner of Police Atul Katiyar (Transport Range) also held meetings with concerned officials for crime prevention within the railway jurisdiction.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railway) Dinesh Kumar Gupta stated that they will be distributing pamphlets to passengers, so as to raise awareness regarding accidents as well as safety and security in railway stations.
"We also wrote to RPF regarding this," added the DCP.
The city police and RPF are also patrolling railway tracks, which serve as an easy access for anti-social elements, as they can enter stations on foot and carry out dangerous activities.