Rail-accident fatalities in the country are fast shooting up due to widespread reckless, irresponsible commuting and almost zero law enforcement. Risky practices such as boarding on or disembarking from moving trains, travelling on rooftops, sitting between train carriages, walking along tracks with earphones on, avoiding foot-over bridges or careless crossings have all add up to the growing woe.
Moreover, sometimes criminals place bodies on railway tracks after committing murder to disguise it as an accident. But in recent times many deaths occur due to public negligence-like walking with headphones or sitting on tracks unaware of oncoming trains.
According to Railway Police data, in the first four months of 2025 alone, nearly 300 deaths were already recorded, continuing the alarming trend. 1,017 bodies were recovered from railway tracks across the country in 2024, averaging nearly 85 deaths per month. Among the deceased, 794 were men and 223 were women.
A total of 998 unnatural death cases were filed that year, with 6 later re-classified as murders following investigation. Of those killed, 504 died while sitting or walking on train tracks, 272 were struck while crossing lines carelessly, and 76 were hit while wearing earphones. In addition, 23 fell from train rooftops, and 142 deaths were classified as unnatural, where the exact cause could not be determined.
These numbers followed a similarly grim trend in 2023, when 1,064 train-related deaths were recorded. That year, 502 people died due to being on or near the tracks, 387 from dangerous crossings, 18 from headphone use, 23 from rooftop falls, and 134 deaths were unexplained.
However, it is not possible to visually monitor thousands of miles of rail track criss-crossing the country from one end to another. Awareness and change must come from the people themselves.
In fact, a little over a year ago our rail authority reported that, the organisation was being operated with only one-third of required loco masters, stationmasters and guards. Many technical staff also lacked necessary training to carry out their responsibilities. Besides, unmanned level crossings have also emerged as risky while contributing to over 83 per cent of all rail accidents.
The railway authorities acknowledge the problem, but consider recruiting staff for all level-crossings as economically burdensome for an agency that is already incurring losses. This particular challenge must be addressed the quickest.
Mainstream and social media both have a crucial role to play in raising awareness. At the same time, we believe it is time to immediately reform the colonial era 1861 Railway Act which still provides the legal foundation for ensuring safety on and around rail-tracks.
