Deaths on rail roads: a study from Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka

Abstract

In Sri Lanka railway related deaths are reported throughout the year. Most accidental deaths occur due to negligent behaviour of pedestrians and drivers. Fatal train impacts cause extensive visceral and musculoskeletal injuries due to the nature of the object as well as the amount of force transmitted during impact. A study of this nature would help ascertain demographic details of victims, characteristics of the incident of fatal train crashes and recognize the injury profile. An autopsy based retrospective study was done using postmortem reports of 10 years. Seventy autopsy reports from Colombo North Teaching Hospital between July 2006 and July 2016 were analyzed. Data regarding demographic details of victim and incident, external and internal injury distribution, cause and manner of death as determined at autopsy were extracted. Majority of victims were males between 20-39 years (43.7%, n=32) of age and were married (64.3%, n=45). Most victims of accidents were trespassers 68.8% (n=33). 68.6% (n= 48) and 31.4% (n=22) respectively were due to accidents and suicide. The highest number of fatalities 64.3% (n=45) were observed between 2 pm to 10 pm. The number of external injuries were more in accidents than suicides. The most common cause of death was multiple injuries. Majority of the deaths were accidental. Transections of neck, chest and traumatic amputations of extremities were common in suicides than accidents.

Autopsy Death Profile Due to Railway Injury in Mangalore, A Coastal City of South Karnataka- A Retrospective Analysis

“…Decapitation was seen in 40% of suicidal cases and in 7.4% of accidental deaths. This was contrast with the study 5 The present study showed a large proportion of accidental deaths (91.5%) compared to suicidal deaths (8.5%). There were no homicidal deaths.…”

“…There were no homicidal deaths. A similar finding was observed by other studies 5,8 .However, these findings were contrary to the study carry out in New York, where suicide outnumbered to accidents 12 . Accidental deaths are often preventable with a great deal of good involvement of public and investigating authorities as seen in other studies.…”

“…In several studies male prevalence has shown. (5,8) 94 % of accidental deaths occurred in male, 80% of cases of suicide deaths occurred in male, 20% of suicidal cases in women and 6% of accidental deaths were in women. These findings are similar to an another study 10 .…”

“…This was consistent with other studies. (5,8) The majority of the victims were males again larger section of males commute and are mobile. In several studies male prevalence has shown.…”

“…Accidental deaths were the major circumstance of death in railroad deaths. The most common injuries seen in suicide were a transection of neck, chest injuries and traumatic amputations of extremities 5 . The other factors for death would be a train and automobile collision, an impact between train or a passenger hanging out of compartment doors who are sandwiched by trees, posts or electric poles 6,7,8 .To rule out criminal violence certain features deserves special observation, such as wheel marks on the body, dirt and grease contamination and manner of severance of tissues 8 .…”