While announcing the Rail Budget, Suresh Prabhu proposed a Mission Zero Accident, to ensure no deaths happen on railway tracks. Surprisingly, on February 24, Mumbai actually saw ‘zero’ deaths on its suburban tracks
While announcing the annual Railway Budget in the Lok Sabha yesterday, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu proposed a Mission Zero Accident, to ensure no deaths happen on railway tracks. Surprisingly, on February 24, a day before this announcement, Mumbai actually saw ‘zero’ deaths on its suburban tracks.
Illustration/ Uday Mohite
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As per the figures of the Government Railway Police (GRP) on February 24, there were no deaths on Mumbai’s tracks. However, seven people were reported injured. Railway police officers said that on Wednesday, none of their 17 rail police stations in Mumbai – including Western and Central Railway – reported any deaths. “We haven’t seen zero deaths for a long time now. It feels good to know that no one lost their lives on the tracks,” said a GRP official.
According to Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, 68 per cent deaths happen while trespassing tracks. File pic
The job of Mission Zero Accident would be to eliminate the number of deaths on tracks. According to Prabhu, 68 per cent deaths on tracks happen while trespassing tracks. Prabhu is also appointing a Mission Director, whose job would also entail reducing deaths on tracks.
Previous deaths
Recently in Mumbai, there were two major incidents at level crossings; one was the death of Gaurav Vora (13), who died while crossing tracks at Sandhurst Road station. The other was the death of four railway labourers, who died while crossing tracks near Kurla, during the 72-hour mega block.
To counter the death of its labourers, the Indian Railways has also proposed a device for them. Officials said that although there is little clarity on its functions, it would mainly a device provided to the labourers, which would emit or give a sound in case a train is approaching. They would also be lessening the contents inside the tool box and bags carried by these labourers used for checking the condition of tracks, even as trains are constantly on the move.
Did you know?
Everyday, the railway officials collate data on the deaths and injuries occurring on tracks. This includes bifurcation through sex and whether or not the body could be identified, has it been traced or is it untraced. On an average, almost 10 people lose their lives on Mumbai’s tracks everyday.
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