Railways to launch anti-trespassing drive

To prevent a repeat of Amritsar-like tragedy, the Indian Railways has decided to conduct massive drive against trespassing on tracks across its network.

"We will launch a nationwide campaign against trespassing and the dangers thereof. This is all that we can do to avoid such tragedies," Ashwani Lohani, chairman of railway board, told reporters.

The railways has been conducting such campaigns in the past as well, but intermittently.

The national transporter had initiated a drive last year too, after a slew of 'selfie deaths' on tracks were reported from across the country.

In the first six months of 2017, more than eight people lost their lives in accidents while clicking selfies on tracks, railway officials said, adding a campaign was launched after these reports.

In 2018, as of September, 1,20,923 people were arrested and prosecuted by the railway protection force (RPF) for intruding the railway system.