In 20 years, the local train system in Mumbai claimed the lives of 52,300 people
The Central and Western Railway zones reported a decrease in the number of deaths over time.The Railways notified the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that over 52,300 people have passed away on Mumbai's suburban train network in the previous nearly 20 years, according to Live Law.The high death rate among Mumbai local train commuters was being discussed by a bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya.
Yatin Jadhav, the petitioner, had highlighted a number of issues that contribute to fatalities on the suburban train system.
In response to orders the court had issued in June, the Western Railway and the Central Railway filed affidavits on Tuesday and Wednesday. Local trains in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area are run by the two railway zones. According to The Indian Express, almost 23,000 people lost their lives on Western Railway routes between June 2024 and 2005. Between June 2024 and June 2009, there were almost 29,300 fatalities on Central Railway lines.
According to India Today, the Western Railway told the court that fewer people had died in previous years. In 2023, 936 people had died and 984 had been injured, compared to 1,084 deaths and 1,517 injuries in 2016.
According to an affidavit obtained by India Today, Santosh Kumar Singh Rathore, the senior divisional security commissioner for the Western Railway, stated that while the administration is sensitive to every incident involving injury or death, its efforts will not be successful until the passengers cooperate better.
It further stated that no new services could be introduced and that more than 100% of the train's capacity is now being used.
According to India Today, the Central Railway notified the court that there is an issue with widespread trespassing on the tracks.
The extra divisional railway manager (administration) of Central Railway's Mumbai division, Shashi Bhushan, told the court that there is a considerable risk of mortality due to slums being too close to the railway tracks.
According to Central Railways, during the past 15 years, fewer people have died while the railway network's capacity to carry passengers has grown.
1,782 people died and 1,614 people were injured in 2009. In 2023, these figures dropped to 1,221 fatalities and 938 injuries, according to the Central Railway.
According to The Indian Express, during the June hearing, the court ordered the general managers of the two railway zones to investigate the issue and requested affidavits regarding the precautions taken to prevent similar mishaps.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rupee falls 20 paise to 95.43 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 20 paise to 95.43 against US dollar in early trade on Tuesday as market sentiments remained fragile after renewed military exchanges between US and Iranian forces in the Gulf region.
Forex traders said investor anxiety due to instability in the Gulf is causing massive capital flight into safe-haven assets, with the US dollar acting as the primary beneficiary.
Moreover, Brent oil prices is hovering near USD 113 per barrel, maintaining pressure on oil-importing economies like India.
At the interbank foreign exchange market the rupee opened at 95.30 then lost ground to touch 95.43 against the US dollar, in initial trade, registering a fall of 20 paise over its previous close.
Rupee fell 39 paise to close at an all-time low of 95.23 against the US dollar on Monday.
"With oil boiling rupee on Monday fell to a closing low of 95.0875 and this morning the opening was still lower as it becomes more and more vulnerable when dollar index rises due to safe-haven buying and oil prices rise due to the continuous fighting in the Gulf Region," Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said.
The higher oil prices will keep rupee sold off against the dollar as oil companies and FPIs intensify dollar buying, Bhansali added.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 98.51, up 0.15 per cent.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading lower by 1.07 per cent at USD 113.22 per barrel in futures trade.
"Market sentiments remained fragile after renewed military exchanges between US and Iranian forces when Iranian forces launched fresh attacks in the Gulf as both sides sought to assert control over the strategic waterway," Bhansali said.
On the domestic equity market front, Sensex declined 361.62 points to 76,907.78 in early trade, while the Nifty dropped 134.90 points to 23,980.60.
Foreign Institutional Investors purchased equities worth Rs 2,835.62 crore on Monday, according to exchange data.
