HYDERABAD: The incident took place in an isolated area, a little away from Malkajgiri Railway Station and no one could have prevented them from ending their lives, says M Suhasini, head constable who was on duty at the station. “While checking the tracks, the line man discovered the bodies. We generally don’t go that far because the area is isolated where a lot of miscreants make rounds,” she said. Suhasini, who has been on duty at Malkajgiri since April 2016, recalls that approximately 20 deaths have occurred on the particular track.
Vishwa Prakash, station master too agreed. This increase in deaths on railway tracks coincides with the National Crime Records Bureau Data. While 860 cases were registered under IPC in 2014, the number increased to 1,089 in 2015. “Most of the deaths that occurred here were suicide cases and all of them were above the age of 20. A few days ago, a 21- year-old laid down on the tracks and his body was cut in half. The reason for his action was that the girl he fell in love with got married to someone else.
Another couple, both railway employees, too did the same. None of these incidents occurred in places where we can keep an eye on the tracks,” said Suhasini, whose jurisdiction is from Malkajgiri to Mirjapalli, a 50-km stretch. Counselling to people with suspicious behaviour Authorities say that those identified with suspicious behaviour are counselled. “If someone spends too much time at the station or are loitering around, we question them. In case of small injuries, we also provide them first aid,” added Suhasini. Inspector Anjaneyulu said it is not possible to keep track of entire railway stretch.
“Around one km of the stretch is guarded with grills or walls. All connecting tracks are not manned and such incidents occur generally in this stretch,” he said and added that four types of accidents occur on railway tracks — falling down accidents, while crossing the tracks, suicides and natural deaths.