The recent death of a 68-year-old man who was run over by a train near Tiruchi was one more instance of an accidental death to have been reported under the jurisdiction of Government Railway Police (GRP), Tiruchi District this year.
The aged man had “trespassed” the track between Srirangam and Lalgudi railway stations when the tragedy occurred.
Accidental deaths due to trespass on tracks have been a recurring phenomenon within the jurisdiction of GRP, Tiruchi District, notwithstanding safety-related awareness campaigns thus causing concern to the investigation authorities.
The jurisdiction of GRP, Tiruchi District, is vast starting from Mundiyambakkam near Villupuram and goes up to Kuzhithurai near Kanyakumari in the north-south direction. In the East-West direction, it is from Nagapattinam up to Pugalur near Karur. It encompasses Tiruchi and Madurai Railway Divisions besides part of Salem Division with several busy railway sections falling within its limits.
Railway Police sources said 225 accidental deaths were reported in the last five months this year
In addition to this, there were 21 cases of suicide reported during the same period wherein victims had ended their lives by jumping in front of the train at various spots. If preventing trespass on railway tracks is a huge task for the Government Railway Police, establishing the identity of the victims is equally challenging for the investigators.
The sources said the identity of over 80 dead persons could not be established so far this year. Majority of the victims in cases relating to trespass were males, said the sources. GRP authorities, however, say there has been a reduction in the total number of cases (including accidental death and suicide) booked in the current year as compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Various safety–related propaganda and safety counselling activities had been conducted in districts falling within the limits of Tiruchi Railway Division.
Safety checks were carried out in manned and unmanned level crossings between Villupuram and Puducherry section jointly by Railways, Transport Department officials and security personnel. Ambush checks were also conducted at various spots recently in Tiruchi Division, said railway sources.
