Mumbai's overcrowded trains kill 17 every day
Amazing figures...We need a "Mumbai Safety Day"... perhaps we should send Paaju to give them safety training..
Passengers forced to cling to the sides of Mumbai's rush-hour trains because there is no room inside will tell you that as commutes go, theirs is a killer. And they aren't joking: 17 people died every weekday on the city's suburban rail network last year - a record for what may well be the world's deadliest stretch of track.
Details of the death toll confirm the horror stories told by veteran commuters in India's financial capital, a group long inured to the sight of body parts littering the line. The figures, which were obtained for The Times using India's Right to Information Act, show that the maximum fatalities - 3,443 out of a total of 4,357 in 2008 - were caused by people being knocked down by trains while trespassing on the tracks.
The next biggest portion of deaths - 853, or more than three every working day - were of passengers who fell (or were pushed) from carriages, which have no doors and are often crammed dangerously full. Another 41 people perished after being battered by trackside poles while hanging out of overcrowded trains. Twenty-one were electrocuted by power cables as they sat on the roof - a location often chosen to avoid paying for tickets that cost only pennies.
Even after taking into account the frequent timetable disruptions caused by railway deaths, the level of congestion on the city's roads means that the trains' attractions outweigh the dangers. “A 45-minute train journey across town can easily take more than two hours by car,” said Indranil Mukherjee, a news photographer who relies on the railway as the fastest route to reach breaking stories
Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6011777.ece
You're right Arien, as a percentage it's not many people. However, it's still ludicrous the way people cross the tracks and hang of the trains.
Ql is gettin matured I guess.. going through the thread initially , i was expecting another India-bash thread. :)
The size matters mates..lol. when you say 17 , look at out of howmany too... please go through what we are discussing out here..
1.Indian Railways has one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting over 18 million passengers and more than 2 million tonnes of freight daily. ( wow thts more than the population of many countries)
2. It is the world's largest commercial or utility employer, with more than 1.4 million employees.
3.The railways traverse the length and breadth of the country, covering 6,909 stations over a total route length of more than 63,327 kilometres (39,350 mi).
4.IR owns over 200,000 wagons, 50,000 coaches and 8,000 locomotives of rolling stock.
cheers
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Listen to Many..Speak to a few.
improper/irresponsible behaviour, no awareness and fast life style of Mumbai put people in dangerous situation. Sometime they try to be oversmart and using short cuts, hanging on the doors despite there were enough space to sit, standing between the 2 compartments, etc, etc,
I had one of the worst experience in mumbai; I fell on the Railway track while crossing the tracks (not using the foot bridge in those days) and the train came from the other side. I could hear the powerful siren but lost the senses at those particular moments, I realised when a lady screamed loudly and then I jumped on the other side.
OMG I could never ever forget that scarry moments of my life, it was before my marriage on 25 Dec 1989 around 5PM..since then I am extra careful and very diligent.
I have been through my life threatening incidents at least 3 times so far.
Glad you're not offended shreeya. There's nothing wrong with being proud of and defending your country, as long as you can see it's downfalls as well (which you obviously do). Enjoy your weekend.
yeah its the people who are to be blamed...in the history of central railways there have been no accidents......as you said people die because of hanging on the doorrs and crossing of tracks.
Aana free, jaana free,
Pakde gaye tho khana free.
sensible response and agree with you.
FREE Education from the grass root level for ALL is the only solution to eradicate poverty, unemployment, health/medical issues, no civic sense, etc, etc...
victor u think they die because of lack of education.
Aana free, jaana free,
Pakde gaye tho khana free.
Thank you VB. But you can make an exception when it comes to tallg. Why, read my reply above.
If you ever need a helping hand you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
I really appreciate your no-nonsense and straightforward ways of addressing any topic.
There are plenty of things that need to be corrected in India. I can suggest you more books that can boil your blood. The level of corruption in my country (ref: see the corruption index), I am surely not going to defend it. India is a pythonic country and system moves in a pythonic way, but it moves for sure. We are not going to be a super power in near future, everybody of us know that. but may be in loong way you can see us there.
Education from the grass root level is the only solution imho.
Ohh well, I am not offended at all. But since the topics in QL can take any turn, I became rather a bit defensive.
It's beautiful weekend ahead and right now I am having plenty of time in my hand to type such big big pages....lol
If you ever need a helping hand you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
No sarcasm or diversion intended VB. Do you not agree India should take steps to stamp out this dangerous behaviour? Do you not think it will help them to move forward if they do?
people are sometime very sarcastic and divert the forum; just ignore and maintain your lane.
Take it easy dear and chill.
Have A nice day and weekend too!
I don't think I was mud slinging. I was pointing out the disparity between where India is and where it wants to be. I think the train situation is relevant to that and hence it seemed apt to bring it up in this topic. Apologies if it offended you. I guess my point was that India need to do something to stop the ridiculousness that is seen everyday on it's railways.
Perhaps I'm getting carried having just finished reading Aravind Adiga's "The White Tiger". I now see myself as an expert on everything that's wrong with India :)
Well, I am from Mumbai and was a commuter for over 12 years (since age 14 to 30 smthing) on a very very busy route. But I followed the rules strictly. There was very strong urge to get back to home early, at times, but I did controll myself and succeeded in remaining alive...lol. So, I can write on this situation as I myself was the part of it.
If you ever need a helping hand you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
But was that any sense to compare this topic to the desire of being a super power? Show me any body has mentioned the crap in this topic other than you. Jack has given the perfect stats related to this topic. Nobody has done any mud slinging to put the blame on any other nation, or more precisely on 'West'. Why should you take the wrong turn?
Reg. the deaths on tracks: Those who are crossing the lines have to met their fate. Let me tell you, it is illegal in India to cross the railway lines and there are plenty of bridges made at every station but still some stupids tend to find shortcuts. There are people in every country who just find the loop holes in the laws.
Well, India is definitely not claiming to become the superpower with these idiots, they are already 'long gone'!!!! Still we have many others who make PSLVs, GSLVs, Chandrayaan (Mission Moon), missiles and well a breakthrough in Stem cell tech to!!!! But this is definitely not the topic to discuss it all. And to be precise, I just don't want to discuss this in any other thread too, as it will surely going to turn in abuses and more abuses.
I don't have any issue with your's or any other's country...I just try to remain faar away from bashing topics...
If you ever need a helping hand you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
the minimum number of people standing on your feet is four during the rush hour......thats when i know that 17 per day is not bad at all.
Aana free, jaana free,
Pakde gaye tho khana free.
shreeya - at no point have I mentioned anything about any other nation, or compared your nation to any other nation. My comment was on India's desire to become a super power and has nothing to do with the existing super powers. How India goes about raising its international status is up to them. I was just pointing out that I don't think the current situation where people are permitted to do what they do around trains is a good one.
And in response to your comment, someone murdering someone else is completely different to hoards of people being allowed to put themselves in serious danger on a daily basis.
'moving the emphasis away from killing your own...to killing others' is definitely a step in 'right'? direction...lol
Ohhh, well, I heard that in your part people kill each other over 'jumping-queue'? My Gosh...a nation truly in right direction....lol
If you ever need a helping hand you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
Well said shreeya
Yes, I'd say that moving the emphasis away from killing your own is definitely a step in the right direction.
Instead of killing our own people we should kill people from other countries to become a superpower...And if you have that strong urge to become a superpower, you will find the plenty of reasons to kill them too. Like some may be having WMDs, some may be 'violating' human rights and blah blah blah....
Well, I am perfectly agree with the first part of your reply re. crossing and clinging...
If you ever need a helping hand you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
The article has also stated...this correctly (strange)!!
“A 45-minute train journey across town can easily take more than two hours by car,”
ie 45min train ride = 50 kms = 2 hrs by car.
Thats how far you can get in Doha during peak hour!!!....
Ok ....in Doha it would take you only 1hour and half....because of driving over 120kmph out of citylimits.... :)
Rizks .. SO nothing :) do ur work :P
Munna143 ....
SO ?? :)
At the end of the day, it's clearly not a good idea to cross train tracks or to cling to the sides of trains. I believe a country where this behaviour is prevalent has little chance of becoming the world super power it wants to be.
well said jack :) was in mumbai 3 year , i like train journey verymuch :P
Arien
wat about donkeys ?? :)
Jack well said bro. Man i cant type tat much ....:)
Kudoes Jack.. well said.
It was really a shocking number and hard to believe one. Being a southy , i have hardly been to Mumbai and never on trains there.
Back in south - Trains are the fastest, cheapest and safest mode of transport.
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Listen to Many..Speak to a few.
Mumbai from other parts of India...
those who are regular train commuters never had problems even during peak hours; these fateful, who got killed are generally new to mumbai....
It is not only difficult to curb such accidents but almost impossible due to the spurt of people travelling by local trains in Mumbai every day. Hopefully with entry of metro rails could help to reduce the number of casualities.
Just for information;
Indian Railways is largest State owned and managed institution in the World employing over millions of staff (recorded under Guiness book of World records).
bbay train rocks ..... out of the 17 that die i am sure 15 cus of there own fault .... so if u work out the % i say its still one of the most effective & safe way of traveling .... u need 2 b from bbay 2 know what local trains mean 2 bbay its the life line
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"Kids, You Tried Your Best and You Failed Miserably. The Lesson Is, Never Try."
Weldone jacky....
Bravo jackmohan.
I think it is the slum god effect that is forcing many to picture everythiing of Mumbai as bad.
I have travelled for 15 years in Mumbai trains and never had a problem - peak or non peak hours. These tains are the fastest / CHEAPEST / and the life line of city.
I think if an avearge deaths are taken into account considering the millions that travel we are referring to 0.00000000000000000000 th percentage of deaths.
I am from Mumbai and prefer to travel by that train rather than in my car in Doha...
The reasons are:
1. Its very cheap cost wise...This is wrongly
stated by the article."Rs 1,500 or QR107 for unlimited
travel for 3 months....when the fare for 2nd class
travel is Rs 500 or QR35 FOR 3 MONTHS!!!!...Tell me
where in the world can a common man travel unlimited
times for less than QR 12 monthly...
Mumbai locals = QR12 for 30days = QR0.40 per day for
Unlimited times of travel!!!!
Cost of travel in Doha =(the cost of Car &
Petrol/Service = QR2000/30days =QR66)QR66 per day
approx.
2. In Mumbai Locals travel at 80kmph average (and
not at 40kmph as wrongly stated by the
newspaper) I used to travel 54kms (Bhayandar to Dadar)
in 45 to minutes in peak hour or otherwise...In Doha it
takes me 45 minutes to travel 8Kms at peak hours!!!
I used get to read a lot on my way to and back from work....now I cannot read as I drive ...
So taking the article's 2 "glaring mistakes" and one exaggration (deaths) I can say its and attempt to paint India and Mumbai (again) in a bad light something that Slumdog Millionnaire attempted ....
Lets get this straight....
The system carries more than 6.6 million commuters on a daily basis and constitutes more than half of the total daily passenger capacity of the Indian Railways itself.
It has one of the highest passenger densities of any urban railway system in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Suburban_Railway
Quote
The next biggest portion of deaths – 853, or more than three every working day were of passengers who fell
Unquote
Now 3 out of 6.6 million commuters daily is not a big figure....there are more deaths on Doha roads daily!!!
Most deaths are from crossing the railway lines ....
2 are seen crossing the tracks in the below image from the said UK newspaper:
They think that they can defeat the train in the race.....
If you ever need a helping hand you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
I was about to say the same as skdkak. Maximum deaths are due to crossing the railway lines. They surely reach their destination very fast and before time...
If you ever need a helping hand you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
Thats an alarming figure brit.
Habari u alright? whatver they blamed is been proven true now.
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Listen to Many..Speak to a few.
for this as well..
this is horrible, and I thought city rail in australia was bad... I think I will stop complaining
Out of the 17 (supposedly) daily deaths, min 15 deaths are due to crossing railway lines.
Fault is not with trains and its system. it is the way a human being wants to reach his/her destination ASAP.
Seen it first hand people crossing railway lines even when there is a railway pesestrian bridge or a subway available.
For the balance 2 - NO COMMENTS.
It's high time that the Indian Railways wakes up and gets to work.
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!