Early on Thursday, a man’s body was found close to the railway track near Manapparai. Aged about 30 years, the man was knocked down by a train while crossing the track in the early hours, according to Government Railway Police.
On receipt of information, the Railway Police personnel rushed to the spot and established the identity of the victim as S. Ayyappan of Kanundiyanpatti near Manapparai.
This fatality was yet another accidental death to have been reported in the vast limits of Tiruchi Railway Police District encompassing Tiruchi and Madurai Railway Divisions.
Notwithstanding awareness campaigns by the railway administration and the GRP, instances of run over by trains along various sections continue to be on the higher side if the statistics are any indication.
The number of those fatally knocked down by trains while crossing the track was 639 in Tiruchi Railway Police District jurisdiction in the calendar year 2017, according to Railway Police statistics.
The casualty figure last year is higher than 2016 when 606 persons died after being knocked down by trains while crossing the track.
The casualty figure of male was higher than female in respect of accidental deaths.
The jurisdiction of the Tiruchi Railway Police District, headed by an officer in the rank of a Superintendent of Police, is vast starting from Villupuram to Kanyakumari in the north-south direction. In the east – west direction, it extends from Nagapattinam to Karur.
In addition to run over cases which are classified as “accidental death”, there have been 30 other cases of suicide in which the victims allegedly ended their lives by coming in front of the train.
While the identity of many victims of accidental death was established, there have been instances wherein the Railway Police were unable to establish the identity of the victims. Railway Police sources say identity of 178 persons who had died in 2017 either due to accidental death, suicide or natural death was yet to be established.
The vast jurisdiction encompassing several railway sections is a real challenge for the personnel attached to the Tiruchi Railway Police District to cover.
Trespass on tracks despite several awareness campaigns is something which the railway police is finding hard to curb given the existing manpower strength and the vast sections that comes under their jurisdiction.
Superintendent of Police, Government Railway Police, Tiruchi Annie Vijaya said the Railway Police had been carrying out campaigns in a sustained manner to create awareness among people on the dangers of trespass and percolating other safety measures.
The campaigns would continue to be organised in the current year in an effort to curb accidental deaths, the SP added.
A senior railway official said safety-related awareness campaigns were being conducted at various stations falling within the limits of Tiruchi Division at frequent intervals.
There should be greater awareness among public on the safety-related issues, the official added.
