Chandigarh, September 19: The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Chandigarh has reported 46 deaths on railway tracks, platforms and adjoining areas under its jurisdiction between January and September 15 this year. Most of the victims were young, aged 19 to 35 years, and more than half remain unidentified.
According to GRP records, only 20 of the deceased were identified, while 26 could not be traced to families. Three of the victims were women. “The unidentified bodies are usually handed over to NGOs for cremation after completing legal formalities,” a GRP employee said.
The data shows at least three fatalities were confirmed suicides, where loco pilots saw individuals deliberately stepping onto the tracks. Another 20 people died natural deaths, mostly homeless or destitute individuals found near platforms and premises.
GRP officials have urged residents to be more cautious, particularly young people who walk along tracks with headphones on. “Many youths, while wearing headphones, walk close to or even on the tracks and meet with accidents,” said Urmila, station house officer at GRP Chandigarh. She identified Dhakoli and Baltana crossings as especially vulnerable stretches.
Other accident-prone areas include Ram Darbar Colony and Vikas Nagar in Chandigarh, Baltana in Zirakpur, and Indira Colony, Sector 19, and Chandimandir in Panchkula.
Railway staff working at these locations say the risks extend beyond careless commuting to threats faced by workers themselves. A railway employee posted at Baltana crossing said nearly 40 trains pass through the stretch daily, but commuters frequently flout safety. “People often cross under closed gates with their cycles and two-wheelers. Sometimes, even after a train has passed, they argue with us to open the gate immediately,” he said.
The employee added that staff have also faced violence. “A few months ago, a staff member was attacked and stopped reporting for duty. Last month, three individuals were brutally assaulted by a group of around a dozen men with sticks, and our hut window was smashed. A protective mesh should be installed for our safety,” he noted.
GRP officials said enforcement drives and awareness campaigns will continue, but the growing number of fatalities underscores the need for both caution among commuters and improved protection for staff on duty.
