Desis boarding trains are always in a hurry. Whether it is to reach their work or any destination, they never stop for anyone. So, obviously, to go ahead with their fast-paced life, they sometimes opt for shortcuts like crossing the railway tracks.
To curb this and create awareness among commuters, Western Railways found a rather creative solution. They have hired a Yamraj (God of death) to keep these trespassers away from the tracks and stop them from crossing the unmanned tracks. He also carries them back to safety.
Mumbai: Western Railway, with Railway Protection Force (RPF), is creating an awareness among people about the dangers of trespassing & crossing railway lines. A man costumed as ‘Yamraj’ is providing safety awareness info to people & intervening to stop them from walking on tracks pic.twitter.com/0qnXsUiHHC
— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2019
The Yamraj is a member of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) who is part of the awareness campaign which began on November 6th at Andheri and Malad stations in Mumbai.
The Western Railways also posted a video on Twitter which showed the Yamraj catching two trespassers and carried them back to their safety.
अगर पटरी पार करोगे तो मैं तुम्हें अपने साथ ले जाऊँगा -said Yamraj during the awareness drive against Trespassing by RPF/WR in slum areas adjoining Railway tracks for saving precious lives&injuries to the people who trespass. पटरी पार करना खतरनाक ही नहीं अपितु कानूनन जुर्म भी है। pic.twitter.com/SdHytaaVn4
— Western Railway (@WesternRly) November 7, 2019
Netizens too praised this initiative by the Indian Railways.
Very good initiative by the Indian railway.
— Dilip Rathore (@DilipRa64365367) November 8, 2019
Great. Kudos to WR, RPF 👏
— Pinky_Chatterjee🇮🇳 (@sharmistha2405) November 8, 2019
Good idea…. make this idea or awareness to all India railway station…..it will avoid trespassing accident in India!!!
— 😍😍 VIJESH CHANDRAN💪💪🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@Vijesh145) November 8, 2019
Nice move by railway
— Shoaib Arzoo (@ShoaibArzoo2) November 8, 2019
Good work👌
— Ajit Singh (@AjitSin28454891) November 8, 2019
Reports mentioned that trespassing accounted for 721 deaths until June this year. So this was a much-needed initiative by the railway authorities.