The data revealed that only 25 of total 774 deaths in the period between January 2015 and September 2016 were battle casualties. It showed that while a total of 25 personnel were killed in action, 316 died due to a variety of illness and 117 suffered cardiac arrest.
While the deaths due to HIV/AIDS and malaria have gone down in the paramilitary force during the period, fatal casualties of personnel in rail, road and bike accidents continue. Officials said these remained a “cause of worry.”
“The force lost 774 personnel during the period, out of which only 25 were battle casualties. This is a cause of worry and these numbers need to be brought down. A number of initiatives are being taken to ensure a healthy lifestyle and safe driving habits amongst the personnel,” a senior official said.
Last year, former BSF Director General D.K. Pathak had told PTI that the about 2.5-lakh personnel strong force was witnessing a worrying trend in its ranks, as it was losing four times more troops in off-duty bike accidents, than at the borders or other areas of conflict.