Citation

Suresh KS, Kumar R, Hari N, Reddy KSN. Indian J. Forensic Med. Toxicol. 2016; 10(1): 212-216.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. Deptartment of Forensic Medicine)

DOI

10.5958/0973-9130.2016.00049.9

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The number of people dying due to Railway Fatalities is increasing enormously every year. During the study period i.e. from 01-11-2013 to 31-10-2015 the total number of autopsies conducted at mortuary of Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad were 9483 out of which 480 cases were due to railway fatalities upto 4.79% of the total cases in the I year of study and 5.31% of the total cases in the II year of study thereby showing an increase of 0.52%. Many times a Homicide or suicide might go unnoticed or is mistaken for an accident and justice is not done to the deceased.

It is very difficult for a Forensic Expert to come to a conclusion whether the injuries are ante-mortem or post-mortem, because the bodies are often mangled, crushed, stained with oil, dirt, grease, mud, gravel etc., estimating time since death also becomes a great big challenge. On several occasions the findings are totally altered while shifting the bodies. Therefore this study emphasises on the fact that the Forensic Expert should approach any Railway fatality with a high index of suspicion and working as a Medico-Legal Expert, the Forensic Expert should also do the job of an Investigating Officer and help The Judiciary in administering Justice.

Language: en