The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Keeping track of walks and talks which turn fatal

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Sunday, Jul 06, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Keeping track of walks and talks which turn fatal

S. Vijay Kumar

Youth walking along the tracks speaking or messaging on their mobile phones is a common sight

PHOTO: M.VEDHAN

DANGErOUS: Walking and talking over the phone simultaneously along railway tracks could prove to be very risky. A scene near the Nungambakkam railway station on Friday. —

CHENNAI: Youth walking along the tracks speaking or messaging on their mobile phones is a common sight on the Chennai Egmore-Tambaram Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) stretch. In a bid to avert accidental deaths caused by carelessness of commuters, the Government Railway Police have chalked out an elaborate plan to minimise accidents on tracks and trains.

An intensive campaign involving the Railway Protection Force and others will be launched soon to educate the people on safety aspects on railway premises.

Besides pasting posters on the do’s and don’ts in accident-prone areas, the GRP has devised innovative strategies to create awareness among the passengers, particularly the youth.

“Of the 612 accidental deaths that occurred in the Chennai Egmore railway station area in 2005-07, 539 were men, mostly in the productive age group. Many of those who died were those who were trying to cross the track in a negligent manner. The use of mobile phone while walking along the track is a mater of concern now,” said Inspector General of Police (Railways) G. Uma Ganapathi Shastry.

The police have decided to rope in volunteers of the National Service Scheme and Passengers Welfare Association to educate rail users. “A majority of accidental deaths occur between the 50-100 metres distance from the railway station. Youth seem to have a tendency to enter railway track route through narrow lanes and walk up to the station. Negligently crossing unmanned level crossings is a punishable offence under the Railway Act 1989.”

Mr. Shastry said display boards comprising statistics of accidental deaths with photographs of victims would be put up at vulnerable places. “Enforcement and education are equally important. We are coordinating with the RPF in preventing trespass. Besides Chennai Egmore, Tambaram, Chenai Central, Arakkonam, Perambur and Podanur (near Coimbatore) have been identified as accident-prone stretches in Southern Railway,” he says.

While efforts were on to have a tie-up with private hospitals/ambulances to make optimum utilisation of the golden hour (first one hour after an accident) in the event of emergencies, efforts were also on to have a tie-up with local bodies to organise awareness programmes. “By involving the community, we can reach out to the people and communicate the message in a more effective manner,” Mr. Shastry added.

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