KARACHI, March 13: At least 113 people have been killed under the wheels of trains while crossing a track in the city over the past two years.

According to the available data, 65 people were killed in such incidents during the year 2005 and 48 last year in the jurisdictions of four Railway Police Stations – Cantt, City, Drigh and Landhi.

In the year 2005, PR police station Drigh recorded 36 fatalities, Landhi 23, Cantt four and City recorded two fatalities in such accidents.

Until June 30, 2006, PR police station Drig recorded 31 fatalities, Cantt nine, Landhi six, and City recorded 2 fatalities.

The matter of grave concern is that despite this high rate of casualties on tracks, people continue to violate the Rule 122 of the Pakistan Railway Act by moving through or crossing the railway tracks.

The very first reason for this high number of accidents is lack of knowledge and awareness in this regard.

Secondly, it seems apathy of the authorities concerned towards implementing the PR rules and laws and taking concrete measures to check the violation.

The in-charge of the Drigh police station, which has been recording highest number of such incidents, said that 54 deaths were reported in 2000, 31 in 2001, 49 in 2002, 33 in 2003, 33 in 2004, 36 in 2005, 31 in 2006 and four till date in the current year.

In-charge of each PR police station claims that people are repeatedly warned against resorting to crossing tracks but they do not take the warning seriously.

The Railway Police also complain of a shortage of staff to check such violations.

They also spoke of a lack of necessary facilities that could enable them to meet any eventuality.

The Drigh police station has only 15 personnel and they do not have essential facilities like ambulance, etc., says in-charge of the police station.

When asked about the FIRs registered against law-breakers, officials of the four police stations appeared reluctant to give any figure.

It may be recalled that the federal authorities had recently announced a plan for fencing the tracks with a view to bring down the rate of fatal accidents on tracks. It is yet to be seen that when this plan will take a practical shape.—PPI