1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, SVS Medical College, Yenugonda, Mahbubnagar, Telangana State
2Professor and HOD, Department of Forensic Medicine, Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad, TS
3Professor and HOD, Dept. of Forensic Medicine, SVS Medical College, Mahbubnagar, TS
4Honorary Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine, SVS Medical College, Mahbubnagar, TS
*Corresponding author K Sudhakar Suresh Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, SVS Medical College, Yenugonda, Mahbubnagar, Telangana State. Cell: 09440698621, Email: ksudhakarsuresh@yahoo.com
Online published on 2 January, 2016.
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!
Railway fatalities, Forensic Expert, Accidents, Homicides, Suicides
