Tighter patrolling, closed entry points lead to dip in railway track deaths in Pune division

Pune: Intensified patrolling on railway tracks and closure of unauthorised entry points have led to a significant decline in fatalities across the division. Data provided by Government Railway Police (GRP) revealed that the number of deaths on tracks in the Pune division dropped to 491 in 2025, down from 616 the previous year. The Central Railway authorities and GRP attributed this improvement to a coordinated effort to secure railway property and increase ground presence.Of the 491 fatalities recorded in 2025, 12 were confirmed suicides. The Pune station and its surrounding stretches, including the busy Pune-Lonavla and Pune-Daund tracks, accounted for the highest number of casualties at 238 deaths. The Daund police station of GRP recorded 59 fatalities on tracks towards Ahmednagar and towards Hyderabad. The Ahmednagar police station of GRP reported 26 deaths, and while districts of Satara, Solapur, Sangli and Kolhapur reported 168 deaths. Last year, GRP Pune reported 616 fatalities on tracks, including 15 suicide incidents. The Pune railway police station reported 340 deaths, while Daund and Ahmednagar police stations of GRP reported 49 fatalities each. The Solapur area reported 178 casualties. Speaking to TOI, Ashwini Sanap, superintendent of police (GRP Pune), said that restricting easy access to tracks was the primary driver of the decline. "Earlier, there were numerous unauthorised entry and exit points along the tracks, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas," Sanap said. "The Central Railway authorities have since closed these illegal access points. Because people can no longer easily wander onto the tracks, fatalities have reduced." Sanap said a large-scale drive to remove encroachments along the railway lines over the past two years played a crucial role in lowering mortality rates. Furthermore, continuous patrolling by joint teams of GRP and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has helped catch jaywalkers before accidents occur. While the numbers are down, the GRP is now shifting its focus toward the nature of these deaths. During a high-level meeting last week, senior officials discussed the need to ensure that homicides are not being disguised as railway accidents. "We are now studying the specific causes behind every death on the tracks," Sanap said. "To avert cases where suspects might pass off a murder as a railway accident, we are thoroughly reviewing post-mortem and inquest reports. Senior officers are also personally visiting accident sites to ensure a comprehensive investigation." GraphicsYear - 2025 Unit - Deaths - Suicide Pune station - 237 - 01 Daund Station - 58 - 01 Solapur Unit - 160 - 08 Year - 2024 Unit - Deaths - Suicide Pune station - 337 - 03 Daund Station - 49 - 00 Solapur Unit - 168 - 10