Kolkata Metro
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Monotosh Chakraborty | Monotosh Chakraborty | ||
| − | '''Kolkata Metro sees drop in cases''' | + | '''Kolkata Metro sees drop in cases in 2015''' |
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| − | As opposed to suicides going up in Delhi Metro, Kolkata Metro has seen a reverse trend. Officials said 11 people have attempted suicide on India's oldest Metro network so far this year as compared to 20 | + | As opposed to suicides going up in Delhi Metro, Kolkata Metro has seen a reverse trend. Officials said 11 people have attempted suicide on India's oldest Metro network so far this year as compared to 20 in 2014. |
| − | Four people lost their lives but authorities say the number is far lower than | + | Four people lost their lives but authorities say the number is far lower than 2014, that is 14. |
Officials of Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation said the decrease in suicide attempts can be attributed to several preventive measures being taken by authorities. Metro officials not only closely monitor passengers using CCTV cameras but also patrol platforms in a bid to keep passengers from jumping before trains. | Officials of Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation said the decrease in suicide attempts can be attributed to several preventive measures being taken by authorities. Metro officials not only closely monitor passengers using CCTV cameras but also patrol platforms in a bid to keep passengers from jumping before trains. | ||
Revision as of 14:11, 23 August 2015
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Suicides
2014, 2015
The Times of India Aug 23 2015
Monotosh Chakraborty
Kolkata Metro sees drop in cases in 2015 As opposed to suicides going up in Delhi Metro, Kolkata Metro has seen a reverse trend. Officials said 11 people have attempted suicide on India's oldest Metro network so far this year as compared to 20 in 2014. Four people lost their lives but authorities say the number is far lower than 2014, that is 14.
Officials of Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation said the decrease in suicide attempts can be attributed to several preventive measures being taken by authorities. Metro officials not only closely monitor passengers using CCTV cameras but also patrol platforms in a bid to keep passengers from jumping before trains.
“Four RPF officers patrol platforms before trains arrive. No passenger is allowed to cross the yellow line on the platform during that time,“ said an official. If we find that a passenger is very close to the edge, we switch off the power line to the third rail, an official added.
People with suicidal tendencies usually show some signs before committing the act. “Some indicators can be spotted while monitoring passengers on CCTVs. After we rescue the passenger, we try talking to himher to find out what the problem is,“ said Rabi Mahapatra, spokesman, Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation.
But despite the vigil, some people still slip through. “I remember one such case. A man was reading a newspaper on the platform. Just as the train was entering the station, he dumped the newspaper and p jumped on the tracks,“ said e Mahapatra.
Metro officials feel that counselling by NGOs has als so helped bring down the suie cide rate at stations. NGO d Lifeline Foundation has been operating two helplines for Metro commuters for over 10 years. “Instead of advising, we try to befriend the caller. We don't judge and ask callers to tell us more about themselves which helps calm them down,“ said Amitabha Ray , deputy director, Lifeline Foundation.
A study of suicide attempts at stations showed that most people were below 45 years of age.
Metro authorities have ruled out the possibility of setting up glass screen doors on platforms, as is the norm abroad, to help prevent suicides. “We have introduced several video programmes and short films on suicide to raise awareness among commuters,“ said a Metro official.
