The Indian Railways network stretches across 64,000 KM, fourth largest in the world after the US, Russia and China. This fact makes me proud, but what follows are facts that can make any Indian’s head hang in shame.
Disastrous Numbers
- More than 1,000 accidents since 2004 alone.
- In 2008-09, the number of accidents declined to 177, down from 320 in 2003-04, and a shocking figure of 2,000 in 1960-61. Bet this was the year when they tried running the trains on the fields rather than the tracks.
- In 2008-09, over 200 people died in railway accidents. This year has already seen 200 dead, wonder what the count be at year-end.
- The railway safety fund has $3.6bn (£2.4bn) to make trains safer for the millions who use the rail network every year. Little surprised that most railway officials have palatial houses and luxury cars at their disposal.
- Nearly 17,000 unmanned railway crossings across India allow people to walk or drive through them without wasting precious time waiting for the train to pass. So what if every once a while they get hit by a train. Believe it or not, these have amount to over a third of all railway accidents since 2004.
I can write more, but what is the point? Accidents are not going to end anytime soon.
Forgive me for my pessimist views, but hey, this is what history has taught me. Just when we are about to forget about one train accident, another one happens.
Indians are not born with perfectionists- whether it driving a train or aero plane it is one and the same rule. In India it is alwaysfollowed Jack of all trades and master of none so they never capture the mastery . Indians are never taught care for national wealth All the trouble lies in initial and perfect teaching and learning.
Manu,
Could you please share the source of information, to validate your comment/perception – ‘Little surprised that most railway officials have palatial houses and luxury cars at their disposal.’
I am curious to get the data and see what is the % of Tatal Railway Officer who are having palatial houses and luxury Cars. Regarding, Railways providing facilities to its Officers – agree to some extent Officers get good facilities, but if you are suggesting that on personal level these max number of officials have palatial houses and luxury cars then surely I am interested on your source of data.
Kundan, I should have written that many a railway official have palatial houses, regret that. Soem links of asources that substantiate my claim:
http://purefriendship.sulekha.com/blog/post/2010/06/watch-tower-corruptions-in-indian-railways-a-shocking.htm
http://www.merinews.com/article/corruption-eating-into-the-vitals-of-railways/15822651.shtml
Use Google to dig up as many as you like.
But you would agree that the corruption is rampant. Sadly what many people do
I do not believe that its a passing phase…..Indians have got so used to the quick extra buck that the situation is worsening day by day.Its a very sad and sorry state of affairs.
Manu, Its just a phase that our country is going through where corruption know no bounds. The ministers need to spend more time in their office rather visiting irrelevant places. The day people of our country will understand the value of their vote, they will stop trading it with a pack of Biryani. Then this day we all will woke up from our slumber sleep and understand our responsibility for electing responsible representatives. I am worried that this awakening be no later than our demise.