India, Oct. 4 -- In 2023, Indian Railways recorded a staggering 24,678 accidents that claimed 21,803 lives-a 6.7% increase in fatalities over the previous year. These figures, detailed by the National Crime Records Bureau, reveal a safety crisis of alarming proportions: nearly three quarters of these deaths resulted from passengers falling from trains or being struck on tracks, with Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh bearing the heaviest toll. B

ehind this grim data lies an undeniable human tragedy, magnified by the troubling reality that these deaths were largely preventable. Yet, amid this crisis, the government's response remains subdued, with no meaningful accountability from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who presides over a ministry...