A Retrospective Study on The Pattern of Injuries Encountered in Railway-Related Deaths Brought for Autopsy at a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Authors

  • Abhishek Chaudhary Dr. V. M. G. M. C., Solapur Maharashtra.
  • Naresh Zanjad Dr. V. M. G. M. C., Solapur Maharashtra
  • Vinod Rathod Dr. V. M. G. M. C., Solapur Maharashtra

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/vw6g1m48

Keywords:

Railway-related deaths, Accidental, Trespassing, Shock and Hemorrhage

Abstract

Introduction: India has the largest network of railways, providing the basic mode of transportation for passengers and freight. Railway-related deaths are either accidental or suicidal, and we may also encounter homicidal deaths by using railway tracks to mask them. Railway-related deaths are rising due to various factors, viz., unmanned level crossings, lack of safety precautions during entraining or detraining, poor infrastructure, and poor safety measures. This study was conducted to determine the manner of death and the various patterns of injuries encountered in fatal railway-related deaths.

Material and methodology: All the cases of fatal railway-related deaths brought for the autopsy to our mortuary from January 2023 to December 2024 were considered for the study. The data was collected from the Inquest report, postmortem report, relatives of the deceased, and police regarding the circumstances of death. The data was analysed systematically.

Results: A total of 99 cases were observed during the study period. Maximum fatalities (37.4%) were reported among the age group of 31-40 years. Majority of the deceased were male (99%); among them, 74 (74.8%) were known individuals and 25 (25.2%) were unknown. The maximum number of deaths observed was from 12 pm to 6 pm (33.3%), followed by 6 pm to 12 am (28.3%). Most of the deaths were accidental (72.7%) and in 16.2% of cases, the manner of death cannot be ascertained. The majority of accidental deaths were due to trespassing (65.3%). Injuries to the head were observed in most of the cases (56.1%). Among the 99 cases, Shock and Hemorrhage was the most observed cause of death (35.4%), followed by Head injury (26.3%).

Author Biographies

  • Abhishek Chaudhary, Dr. V. M. G. M. C., Solapur Maharashtra.

    Junior Resident – II, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Dr. V. M. G. M. C., Solapur
    Maharashtra

  • Naresh Zanjad, Dr. V. M. G. M. C., Solapur Maharashtra

    Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Dr. V. M. G. M. C., Solapur Maharashtra

  • Vinod Rathod, Dr. V. M. G. M. C., Solapur Maharashtra

    Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Dr. V. M. G. M. C., Solapur Maharashtra

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Published

2025-08-14

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 3 (2025): Medicolegal Update

Section

Case Study

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Abhishek Chaudhary, Naresh Zanjad, Vinod Rathod

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

A Retrospective Study on The Pattern of Injuries Encountered in Railway-Related Deaths Brought for Autopsy at a Tertiary Care Hospital. (2025). Medico Legal Update, 25(3), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.37506/vw6g1m48