A Comprehensive Study of Deaths due to Railway Accidents Reported at a Tertiary Care Hospital Mortuary during the Period of January to December 2015

Abstract

Introduction: Cities are locations having a high level of accumulation and concentration of economic activities and are complex spatial structures that are supported by transport systems. The evolution of mass rapid transport system in the form of suburban railway network has increased railway casualties in the cities as the railroads pass through residential and commercial zones. Hence, the aim of the present study was to assess the analysis of death due to railway accidents in a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: During the study period, total 5240 autopsies were conducted in Osmania General Hospital Mortuary, out of which 474 were due to railway accidents. All the findings of autopsy report were noted and relevant photos at the time of autopsy were taken. In relevant cases, wherever necessary the organ were collected and was sent for histopathological examination. Autopsy on all cases of deaths due to railway accidents conducted at Mortuary, Osmania General Hospital in 2015 were included in the present study. Results: Maximum fatalities were reported among third decade of life i.e. 31-40 years followed by second and fourth decade i.e. 21-30 years. Lowest number of fatalities was reported from eighth and first decade of life i.e. 81-90 years. In accidental cases cause of death in most of the cases is multiple injuries, followed by head injury and head injury associated with other injuries. Conclusion: Highest number of accidents happened while crossing the railway track, followed by people lying on the track or jumping in front of a moving train. In suicidal deaths most of the cases were due to decapitation, followed by crush injuries. About 7 cases of traumatic transection were reported during the period of study.

An autopsy study of railway fatalities

“…In the present Study Male were the Major number of Victims[n-24/32], forming 7:1 Ratio, similar were the observations made by Moses et al, 7 wherein the Victims Sex Ratio was 6.5:1. The results are close to similar studies conducted by Ibrahim et al 5 and Radbo H. 8 The Majority of the Victims[n-26] were Identified Bodies in the Present Cases, however 19%[n-06] were Unidentified at the time of recovery of the mutilated remains.…”

“…In the present Study 75% [n-24] of the victims were suicidee and only 19% [n-6] of Victims died due to Accident and only 6.25%[n-02] were due to Homicides. This is in Contrast to Study Conducted by Ibhraim Jebril, 5 Valsala K. et al, 4 Moses et al, 7 wherein their observations indicated Accidents as the common Mode of Death in 91.5, 62.5% & 63% of Accident Respectively. This Wide Variations is due to the Regional, Urban Factors, as it is widely known that Suicides are more common in Urban and Industrial Regions than in Rural Regions.…”

Circumstances of death and pattern of fatal railway injury

“…Most of the railway related deaths happen to be accidental in nature (63.83%) although suicidal deaths are not uncommon (35.11%) and in 1 occasion, a case of homicide with post mortem railway injury was detected. Our observation is almost similar to the observation of other authors like S.J.Cina., 1 (92%), G.G.Davis., 2 (74.41%), M.K.Mohanty., 3 (80.7%), P.Ravi Kumar., 4 (72.12%), T. Mohit Kumar Moses., 5 (63%), B.Patil., 6…”