Insaaf Times Desk
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023 report has revealed a grim picture of rail safety in India, with 24,678 railway accidents recorded across the country, claiming the lives of 21,803 people. This marks an increase of around 6.7% compared to the previous year
Maharashtra emerged as the most affected state, reporting 5,559 railway accidents, accounting for 22.5% of the total. The state also recorded 3,445 deaths and 2,115 injuries. Experts attribute this to the heavy crowding on Mumbai’s suburban railway network and Western Railway lines.
The report identifies passengers falling or colliding while crossing tracks as the leading cause. A total of 18,480 cases fall under this category, resulting in 15,878 deaths. Maharashtra alone accounted for 5,507 of these incidents.
Rail Crossing Accidents in Other States
Uttar Pradesh: 1,025 accidents (41.3%), 1,007 deaths
West Bengal: 805 accidents, 581 deaths
Madhya Pradesh: 375 accidents, 375 deaths
These three states together accounted for nearly 88% of all railway crossing deaths in the country.
Most accidents occurred between 6 PM and 9 PM (3,771 cases), followed by 9 AM to 12 PM (3,693 cases). Maharashtra reported the highest number of incidents in both time slots.
Other Key Figures
Driver error: 56 cases
Mechanical faults: 43 cases
Total injured: 3,014
Experts emphasize the urgent need for improved railway safety measures, passenger awareness campaigns, and better infrastructure to prevent such tragedies. They call on the Railway Ministry and state governments to prioritize passenger safety above all else.
