Concerned over frequent instances of accidental deaths on railway tracks, the Government Railway Police (GRP) has mapped several vulnerable points in the vast jurisdiction of Tiruchi Railway Police district.
In all, the GRP authorities have identified 43 accident-prone points in the limits of Tiruchi Railway Police district encompassing Tiruchi and Madurai sub divisions and propose to sensitise public to the precautions they need to take while crossing railway tracks.
The vast Tiruchi Railway Police District jurisdiction starts from Villupuram and goes down south up to Kuzhithurai near Kanyakumari in the north-south direction and from Nagore to Kodumudi in the east-west direction. Besides, it also has jurisdiction up to Bhagavathipuram railway gate on the Tirunelveli–Tenkasi route and Gomangalam in the Palani–Pollachi route.
In the process of educating people, the Government Railway Police authorities have drawn up a plan to install boards at the ‘accident-prone' points to caution public and orient them to the precautionary measures needed to be taken before crossing railway track, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Railways, Chennai R.Dhinakaran told The Hindu over phone.
DIG Dhinakaran who held a meeting here with the railway police officers on Monday, said the GRP would request the railway authorities to advise the loco pilots to blow the whistle when the train passes through the accident-prone points.
On an average two to three accident deaths on railway tracks occur every day in Tiruchi Railway Police district's limits, he said adding that the ways to arrest the disturbing trend were also discussed during the course of the meeting. The meeting also took stock of the incidences of crimes onboard trains. Observing that there was an increase in the number of crimes during summer rush, Mr.Dhinakaran said the number of personnel on train beats had been increased by 30 per cent to check offences in trains.
Issues pertaining to railway offences such as baggage lifting and chain snatchings and the ways to go about in detecting such cases were also deliberated upon at the meeting. The over hour-long meeting was attended by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Inspectors, and Sub Inspectors attached with the Tiruchi Railway Police district.
