Beware of this killer pole Pole no. 12/2 on Harbour Line has claimed 20 lives in three years

Beware of this killer pole

Pole no. 12/2 on Harbour Line has claimed 20 lives in three years

If you are traveling on the foot board of a local train, be careful while passing through GTB Nagar and Chunabhati stations on the Harbour Line. A railway pole near the railway track can knock you down. “Pole number 12/2 was very close to railway tracks between GTB Nagar and Chunabhati stations,” said Jitendra Rathod, senior police inspector of Wadala GRP station. The killer pole, till September 30, has claimed at least nine lives this year. Among the deceased five were between 17 years and 25 years Rathod said. Six commuters were killed after being hit by the pole in 2011, five lost their lives in 2010. “Interestingly, we had written three letters since 2011 to the Central Railway administration to shift this killer pole to a safer distance. However, neither the railway administration shift this pole nor they give any feedback to the GRP. Total 20 persons were killed in the past three years by hitting this railway pole. When contacted, the PRO said they have been making regular announcements on every suburban railway station to create awareness among commuters against taking out any body part from the compartment. Secondly, the railway administration is always in favour of increased rakes on suburban services for betterment of commuters. Sameer Zaveri, railway activist and director of Mumbai Suburban Passengers’ Association, said, “The railway administration must shift the killer pole to a safer distance for the safety of commuters. It will surely reduce the number of accidents.”