Anti-trespassing drive fails to curb mishaps
On an average, 10 people die daily on Mumbais railway tracks. It has been found that the main causes of the deaths are crossing tracks, falling off train, hitting railway poles and falling through gap between platform and train. Though the railway officials blame careless travellers for the grim statistics, others say the sluggishness in implementing remedial measures by the railways lead to alarming rise in casualty figures.
The anti-trespassing drive is in place and if railway authorities are to be believed, it has helped them bring down the casualty figures. Though they say that it is not a day-to-day activity but as and when a railway police or RPF personnel notices a person crossing tracks, a fine of Rs500 is levied.
However, commuters often tend to trespass to avoid taking the foot overbridges (FOBs) or in a hurry to avoid missing a train. The person often prefers to cross tracks to save a few minutes, which often turns fatal, said J Rathod, senior police inspector of Wadala railway police.
It is an ongoing drive. We do apprehend people crossing tracks and they are penalised as well, said assistant commissioner of police DS Chavan of railway police.
The railway authorities also make regular announcements at stations to warn people. However, many people tend to ignore such announcements.
The minimum fine for crossing tracks is Rs500. People should realise that railway accidents are not like road accidents.
In most of the railway mishaps, the victim dies or is crippled for life, said Rathod, who added that in many cases a person who has been fined more than once for trespassing, tends to do it again without bothering about the repercussions.