Pune: The number of deaths on railway tracks under Pune Central Railways has almost doubled in 2014. As many as 395 persons died at different spots along on the railway tracks between January to June 2014. The death figure stood at 332 for the entire year in 2013.
Taking into account the rising number of deaths, the central railways has sprung into action and registered a record number of cases related to trespassing the railway tracks illegally during the past six months and fined as many as 28,332 (January to June 2014) and collected an aggregate fine of Rs 36 lakh.
According to the railway police, a large number of deaths have been caused due to reasons like trespassing, suicides and footboard travelling. According to the guidelines, trespassing of tracks at unmarked places amounts to a legal offence. Despite repeated appeals and actions by the police, commuters tend to cross railway lines in their bid to save time, police said.
Senior police inspector of Government Railway Police (GRP) Abhay Parmar said, "Most of the time people who are in a hurry tend to cross the railway tracks illegally and they do not even bother to check whether a train is heading towards them or not, a team of staff was appointed to initiate action against the people involved in crossing the tracks instead of making use of footover bridges.The escalating number of deaths is definitely a cause of concern before us and the society ," he added.
Public relation officer Yogendra Kumar Singh said, "Despite repeated attempts to educate people, they do not take our warnings seriously. The central railways carried out a special drive against illegal trespassers and recovered heavy fines from them," he said. A fine between Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 was recovered from the violators.
Singh told DNA , "The railway stations under Pune railway division have a footover bridge but still people have a habit to cross the railway tracks to save time, ignoring the fact that they are putting their life on risk while doing so. Most of the time people either speak on the mobile phone or put earphones and listen to music which is very dangerous to their lives "
Singh added, "The number is increasing with every passing year therefore we will be carry out the drive on a regular basis and ensure that commuters don't resort to crossing the railway tracks illegally and use the footover bridge instead," he said.
The figure of those who were caught during the same period in 2013 stood at 27,086 people and 2,430 in 2012. The central railways maintained that record fine was recovered following a sustained drive conducted against trespassing and illegal crossing of rail tracks. The drive was conducted at all the prominent railway stations in Pune division.
Act to book violators
As per the Indian Railway Act, Section 147, if any person enters any part of the railway property without lawful authority, he can be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or can be fined up to Rs 1,000 or both.
There are 188 level crossings in the Pune division.
Cases in the last three years
2014
28,332 cases for trespassing were recorded from January to June.
2013
27,086 cases of trespassing were recorded from January to June.
2012
2,430 cases of trespassing from January to June.
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