Death due to traumatic railway injury

Abstract

This study was carried out on 88 railway related deaths in order to determine the specific pattern and distribution of wounds. Of the 88 victims, 79.5% were males and 20.5% were females. The majority were in the age group of 21-40 years. Most of the victims died as the result of an accident (80.7%). Of the 17 suicide cases, ten deaths occurred during the night. In 71 railway accident deaths, 64.8% of victims were pedestrians; thirty-five victims were illiterate and two had consumed alcohol. Decapitation wounds were more common in suicidal deaths and the head was the body region most commonly involved in railway accidents. Our results indicate that railway related deaths could be prevented by surveillance, education and public awareness.