In 2023, India experienced 24,678 railway accidents, resulting in 21,803 fatalities, according to the latest report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Maharashtra recorded the highest number of incidents, accounting for 5,559 cases, or 22.5% of the national total.
The state also reported the most injuries from railway accidents, with 2,115 out of 3,014 nationwide. It’s important to note that the NCRB does not separately track accidents and fatalities on Mumbai’s suburban train network.
The NCRB report identified the primary cause of railway accidents in India as passengers falling from trains or being struck while crossing tracks, which accounted for 18,480 cases—nearly three-quarters of all incidents. This category was responsible for 15,878 deaths, representing 72.8% of total railway fatalities, with Maharashtra contributing 29.8% of these cases.
Other noteworthy causes included 56 accidents attributed to driver error and 43 due to mechanical defects. Accidents occurring at railway crossings were another significant contributor to fatalities, with Uttar Pradesh reporting 1,025 of 2,483 such cases—41.3%, the highest in the nation. This was followed by West Bengal with 805 cases and Madhya Pradesh with 375 cases. Collectively, these three states made up nearly 88% of all railway crossing deaths in 2023.
The timing of accidents also reveals patterns; the majority, totaling 3,771 incidents, occurred in the evening between 6 PM and 9 PM, while 3,693 cases were reported between 9 AM and 12 PM. Maharashtra recorded the highest number of accidents during both time periods.
A Right to Information query reported by The Times of India in January indicated that Mumbai’s suburban railway network recorded 2,590 deaths in 2023, with further incidents leading to 2,468 deaths in 2024.
Across the broader transportation landscape, the NCRB reported a total of 491,190 traffic accidents in 2023, which included 464,029 road accidents. These accidents resulted in injuries to 451,228 individuals and 197,871 deaths. Specifically, road accidents led to 447,969 injuries and 173,826 fatalities. Notably, 45.8% of victims in road accidents were two-wheeler riders, while car, truck, and auto rickshaw occupants constituted 14.3%, 8.0%, and 4.1% of road accident deaths, respectively.
This data highlights the ongoing challenges faced in improving railway and road safety across India.
Tags: railway accidents, India 2023, Maharashtra railway incidents, transportation safety, accident statistics
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