SHYAM ZAMBAULIKER
MARGAO: A total 59 people were found dead on railway tracks on the Canacona-Margao-Pernem rail route in 2022 against 46 in 2021. On an average, nearly 47 people have died every year from 2017 to 2022.
In 2020 the casualties came down during Covid-lockdown to 24. But in 2019, 57 deaths were registered, in 2018 it was 43 and in 2017 total 50 persons died in similar fashion.
Even as preventive measures are being taken to improve and create infrastructure to minimise casualties on the railway tracks, the numbers are not receding.
Out of the 59 deaths last year, six were suicide cases, 45 were accidently hit by train while crossing the tracks and after falling from train and eight died due to natural causes.
The accidental deaths were registered by Konkan Railway Police under Section 174 of CRPC.
It is pertinent to note that unauthorized trespassing on Railway premises including the Railway track is a punishable offence under section 147 of the Railways Act, 1989
Sources in Konkan Railway Police said that most of the deaths happen under influence of alcohol. According to sources, the majority of railway accident victims, including suicide victims, were males between the age group of 30 to 50 years .
In August 2022, a 34 year-old Air Force employee allegedly committed suicide near Margao railway station in the wee hours. Police said they took the help of a person well-versed in Malayalam to translate the suicide note in which it was mentioned that the deceased committed suicide due to financial problem.
The deceased, a native of Kerala, had gone to Delhi for some work. He travelled in Nizamuddin-Trivandrum Express.
In March 2022, Laganappa Dasagal, 50, resident of Majorda, Belgaum, was found dead near a railway track near Majorda. Dasagal used to reside in a rented room along with family near Majorda, said police.
In November 2022 an unidentified 25-year-old man who was run over by a train on Platform number 3, opposite the main gate of the Margao Railway Station succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) Bambolim.
Again in March 2022, an unidentified person, aged between 40 to 45 years, was found dead by the side of a railway track near Cuncolim with multiple injuries on his body.
Sources said that Railways Officers Committee has been formed to study the causes and suggest specific measures to minimise deaths due to untoward incidents including trespassing and preventive measures have been taken to improve and create infrastructure to minimise casualties, like constructing FOBs at places where passengers are required to cross tracks, regular announcements are made through Passenger Address System at Railway stations urging passengers to use FOBs, holding awareness campaigns to sensitise passengers about the dangers of crossing railway tracks, foot-board/ roof-top travelling, boarding and alighting from running trains etc.
Posting Railway Protection Force personnel on locations vulnerable for trespassing, erection of boundary wall/fencing at identified locations, vulnerable to trespassing are some of the steps initiated by the Railway authorities.
Police said Railways has carried out massive campaigns to reduce such deaths. Measures like elimination of unmanned-level crossings over the broad gauge network have been taken.
