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 ofaccumulation and concentration of economic activities andare complex spatial structures that are supported by transportsystems. The evolution of mass rapid transport system in theform of sub-urban railway network has increased railwaycasualties in the cities as the railroads pass through residentialand commercial zones. Hence, the aim of the present studywas to assess the analysis of death due to railway accidents ina tertiary care hospital.Material and Methods: During the study period, total 5240autopsies were conducted in Osmania General HospitalMortuary, out of which 474 were due to railway accidents.All the findings of autopsy report were noted and relevantphotos at the time of autopsy were taken. In relevant cases,wherever necessary the organ were collected and was sent forhistopathological examination. Autopsy on all cases of deathsdue to railway accidents conducted at Mortuary, OsmaniaGeneral Hospital in 2015 were included in the present study.Results: Maximum fatalities were reported among thirddecade of life i.e. 31-40 years followed by second and fourthdecade i.e. 21-30 years. Lowest number of fatalities wasreported from eighth and first decade of life i.e. 81-90 years. Inaccidental cases cause of death in most of the cases is multipleinjuries, followed by head injury and head injury associatedwith other injuries.Conclusion: Highest number of accidents happened whilecrossing the railway track, followed by people lying on thetrack or jumping in front of a moving train. In suicidal deathsmost of the cases were due to decapitation, followed by crushinjuries. About 7 cases of traumatic transection were reportedduring the period of study.