There have been 116 accident cases on Central and Western Railway since January 1, including the period when this drive was on

Some things never change. Government Railway Police (GRP) has discovered this with its safety drive that ended on Saturday.


Quick fix: A commuter sneaks through a narrow opening on platform
no 5 at Dadar station. Pic/Nimesh Dave

According to figures provided by the department, there have been 116 cases of accidents on Central and Western railway since the beginning of this year. The drive kicked off on January 2.

Out of the total figure, 57 accident cases proved fatal, while the rest of the people suffered injuries. Sources in GRP said that 26 mishaps occurred on the very first day of the year, in which 15 people died and 11 were injured.

On an average, 12 people are involved in rail accidents every day due to crossing tracks, falling from a running train, being hit by poles while standing dangerously on the footboard and rooftop travelling.

"It is really shocking to see so many people losing their lives or risking it through their acts," said Madhu Kotian, member, Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh.

Danger zones
There are locations like Borivli, Kurla, Mumbra, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Wadala and Kalyan where people meet with accidents quite frequently.

A senior railway police official attributed this to high density of passengers at these stations apart from slum dwellers who tend to illegally cross tracks.

Commuter-activist Samir Zaveri, who has been following cases of deaths and injuries on tracks said, "On an average every year over 3700 people are involved in railway accidents and the administration should take cognizance of it."

Looking at the current situation, the railways are identifying places where boundary walls are damaged and are repairing them. People prepared to gamble with their lives tend to demolish parts of the walls for engineering shortcuts.

Many people are also seen jumping over the boundary wall or coming out of huts and shanties built close to the tracks.

"We plan to build 7-feet plus boundary walls across the entire stretch," said a Western railway official.

Authorities have also attempted pasting posters illustrating a man coming underneath the wheels of a train - with his face displaying extreme anguish - only to deter trespassers.

Losing the train of thought?
2002-2011:
4,866: No of deaths occurred under CR's Kurla station's jurisdiction
4,217: No of deaths occurred place under WR's Borivli station's jurisdiction