Citation

Badiadka KK, Vasu S, Dsouza DH. Med. Legal Update 2010; 10(2): 25-27.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, R.K. Sharma and Institute of Medico-Legal Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This is a study to find out the epidemiological features in traumatic deaths on the railway tracks, so as to identify the risk groups and to suggest prevention measures. Selections of cases were from the reported cases for autopsy. 79 cases of Traumatic deaths due to train-person collisions and fall from the trains were analysed. 86% were Males. 74.6% of the victims were between 21 and 50 years of age. Unique features of lost identity (22%), absence of survival time (92.4%) and undetermined manner of the death (24%) are the hallmark of such traumatic deaths on the railway tracks. 42% died due to suicide and 34% died due to accident. All the suicidal victims died due to train-person collision. 94% of the accidental victims were pedestrians. Most of the deaths occurred during commuting hours. About one-third of the suicidal events occurred on Sundays. While mental illness and unemployment were associated with suicidal deaths, alcoholic intoxication was found associated with accidental deaths. Our study found that traumatic events due to train-person collisions or fall from trains could be prevented.

Language: en

Keywords

Prevention; Manner of death; Traumatic death; Survival time; Lost identity; Railway track