Wrong way of crossing rail tracks spells death for many

In January this year,six people died trying to cross the tracks while two others were injured. In February,three people died while eight were injured. Six people died in March and four sustained injuries. April saw two deaths and one injury.

Around two years ago,Western Railway conducted a survey on the accident prone locations and tried to find solutions. Dividers were installed,fences were erected between platforms and tracks and also walls were cemented along the tracks. At Malad station a fencing was constructed between platform 4 and 3 and platform 2 and platform 1 (Malad west). Thirty-two trains halt at platform 4 while 20 trains halt at platform 3. Around 500 trains stop at platform 2 and platform 1.

The RPF claims that after their Anmol Jeevan Drive cases of line crossing have been minimised but the ground reality reflects a different story.

“These officials do not care for small things. Divider fence has minimised line crossing to some extent as older people and females do not jump the fence. If they had increased the length of the fencing by a few metres it would have helped,” said Anant Joshi,a daily commuter.

CP Sharma,Divisional Railway Manager,Mumbai division,WR said,“This thing was never brought to my knowledge. The work will be done soon.”

Line crossing accidents
1102
deaths in 2006
533
injured in 2006
1192
deaths in 2007
544
injured in 2007
1067
Deaths in 2008
421
injured in 2008