At least 2,321 people have been crushed under the wheels of different trains in Dhaka in the last eight years.
The accidents took place in the 142km railway tracks from Dhaka to Narayanganj, and Dhaka to Bangabandhu Bridge in Tangail.
The experts say the death toll from this kind of incidents have increased due to grabbing of lands near the railway tracks and lack of awareness.
According to Dhaka’s Government Railway Police (GRP) station sources, at least 2,321 people were killed in such incidents from 2010 till 2017.
Some 203 people (male 165, and female 38) were killed in 2010, 256 (male 215, and female 41) in 2011, 306 (male 267, and female 39) in 2012, 318 (male 278, and female 40) in 2013, 305 (male 242, and female 63) in 2014, 292 (male 248, and female 44) in 2015, 305 (male 244, and female 62) in 2016, and 336 people were killed till December 21 this year.
However, the number of females and males killed this year has not been calculated separately.
Unnatural death cases were filed with GRP station regarding the matter but in one or two incidents, death cases were also filed.
After analysing the data taken from GRP station, it has been found that mostly people between 19 to 50 years of age were crushed under the wheels of trains in the last seven years.
A total of 1,385 people of the age were killed in these years. Around 203 people aged between 1 to 18 years were killed in these seven years while 348 people above 51 years of age were killed during the same period.
Among the deceased, 56 were students, 426 were labourers, 379 service holders, and 1,075 belonged to different other occupations.
The data showed that 422 people, including 56 students, were killed while walking on the railway tracks wearing headphones.
Some 554 people were killed while sitting on the tracks or walking on them, 898 were killed while crossing the tracks in a hurry, 55 died after falling off the roofs of the trains, and seven were killed in accidents between train and tempo.
Only 2,049 cases were filled over the incidents in seven and a half years. Some 203 cases were filled in 2010, 256 in 2011, 306 in 2012, 318 in 2013, 305 in 2014, 285 in 2015, and 305 case were filed in 2016.
GRP officials work in 10 foot area along both the sides of the railway tracks and section 144 is always imposed in this area. However, people still walk on the tracks ignoring the ban.
The authorities concern said influential people build slums and markets on the side of the tracks, which increases the chance of accidents.
Dhaka Railway police station Sub-Inspector Tofazzal Hossain said: “People across Bangladesh are getting killed in these kinds of incidents, and the reason behind it is carelessness.
“We are trying to create awareness among people but if the ones using the tracks are not aware, then the death toll from this kind of incidents will not come down.”
Saturday, March 22, 2025
