Kolkata, July 15 (IANS) Like other railway zones in the country, Eastern Railway (ER) is grappling with the problem of trespassing on tracks.
Latest figures compiled by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) from Station Superintendents reveal that 2,394 cases of trespassing occurred in 2025. These left 2,038 people dead and 359 injured.
The first six months of 2026 were equally bad. Till June 30, ER witnessed 1,144 cases of track trespassing, resulting in 1,001 deaths and 147 injuries.
“The data reveals that the vast majority of these tragic incidents are concentrated in the heavily congested Sealdah and Howrah divisions, though all regions continue to be affected,” a senior ER official said.
In 2025, the Sealdah Division recorded the highest toll with 933 deaths and 175 injuries.
The Howrah Division followed closely with 620 deaths and 128 injuries.
The Asansol Division recorded 278 deaths and 40 injuries, while the Malda Division registered 207 deaths and 16 injuries.
“In 2026, 463 people have already been killed and 66 were injured in the Sealdah Division. The Howrah Division registered 304 deaths and 47 injuries. The Asansol Division witnessed 141 deaths and 23 injuries, while the Malda Division recorded 93 deaths and 11 injuries,” the official said.
The ER has now launched a relentless, zone-wide campaign to combat this ongoing crisis.
From extensive public awareness drives at high-risk stations to strictly monitoring vulnerable crossing points, the railway zone is actively working to make the network safer and completely trespass-free.
The security wings, alongside station authorities, are consistently educating passengers on the dangers of track-walking, emphasising that a shortcut is never worth a life.
The law under Section 147 of the Railways Act is being strictly enforced to deter people from trespassing.
This section addresses trespass and refusal to desist from trespass.
The law applies to anyone entering into any unauthorised part of the railway premises without permission and refusing to leave upon being requested.
Violators face a fine of Rs 5,000, or imprisonment of upto three months, or both for illegal entry into non-passenger zones, such as tracks and yards.
“Every life lost on the tracks is a profound tragedy that leaves a family shattered forever. Saving a few seconds by crossing the tracks is a gamble where the stakes are far too high. The railway is doing everything in its power, from raising awareness to strengthening enforcement, under the guidance of our general manager, to stop this. Ultimately, because safety begins with the individual, I earnestly appeal to everyone to value their lives, cooperate with the railways, and always use foot overbridges and subways to cross safely,” ER CPRO Shibram Majhi said.
The ER has taken several steps to encourage people to use overbridges. These include the installation of lifts at several wayside stations.
Escalators have also been installed at some stations.
Additional security staff are now being posted at stations to stop people from trespassing or crossing level crossing gates.
–IANS
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