421 killed in railway accidents in 2019: SCRF

At least 421 people, including 89 women and 46 children, were killed in 393 railway accidents in 2019.

In addition, 366 people including four women and 33 children were also injured in the incidents that took place across the country between January 1 and December 31 last year.

The numbers surfaced from the "Annual Railway Accident Report 2019" prepared by the Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF), a platform of journalists, based on the railway accident reports published by 24 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and nine online news portals and news agencies.

Most of the accident took place while pedestrians were crossing the railway tracks.

According to the report the highest number of railway accidents took place in November last year.

A total of 68 persons including 45 men, 14 women and nine children were killed in 54 railway accidents across the country in November 2019.   

As per the report, the lowest number of accidents took place in April last year – that killed as many as 26 people, including 19 men, 4 women and 3 children.

The report also said that the highest number of injuries from railway accidents took place in November last year – as the sum of injured hit 100. In addition, only three persons were injured in May last year.    

SCRF President Ashis Kumar Dey identified seven major causes of railway accidents including unapproved and unplanned rail crossings, unguarded railway crossings, expired locomotives, using mobile phones while crossing the railway track, faulty signaling system, unskilled drivers, and lack of adequate manpower and machineries.