353 lives lost on Faridabad rail tracks in a year

Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service
Faridabad, January 16

As many as 353 persons lost their life on railway tracks in the district last year. The number was 49.5 per cent higher than the figure (236) for 2017. Besides, 86 persons were injured or maimed in various mishaps.

Negligence on the part of commuters, unavailability of underpasses or overbridges, encroachments and unauthorised habitation along the rail tracks are believed to be the main reasons behind such accidents.

In all, 625 persons were reportedly booked for violation of the Railway Act and Rs 1.5 lakh recovered from them as penalty.

“Violations of this nature (crossing the track illegally) are rampant and it appears that all efforts by railway officials have failed to produce the desired result,” observed an official of the Government Railway Police (GRP).

The Faridabad zone of the Railways has four stations, including Old Faridabad, New Town (NIT) and Ballabgarh, and a majority of such accidents take place within 1-2 km of these stations.

“A large number of unauthorised constructions and shanties on both sides of the tracks is a major issue and the authorities concerned feel helpless as no action is generally taken in these cases due to political considerations,” said social activist Varun Sheokand.

Local commuter Ajay Kumar blamed the mishaps on lack of various facilities, such as proper display boards, coach indicators etc. Last-minute changes in the platform number for various trains often result in chaos as commuters rush to cross the tracks to board the arriving train and run the risk of meeting with an accident.

“While we keep on making announcements warning passengers about the danger of crossing tracks, many choose to ignore these. In all, 625 persons were penalised for violation of norms last year,” said Om Prakash, Inspector, RPF. 

Carelessness on the part of commuters was the main reason for such incidents, he claimed.

Key factors

• No underpasses
• Unauthorised constructions and shanties along tracks

Deaths on tracks

• 2018:  353
• 2017:  236
• 2016:  378