Chapter – 1 Accidental Deaths in India Incidence and rate of accidental deaths 34.2%. The percentage change of accidental during the decade (2002-2012) deaths is presented in Table-1.1. The incidence of accidental deaths has shown an increasing trend during the A total of 3,94,982 accidental deaths period 2003 -2012 with an increase of 51.8% were reported in the country during 2012 in the year 2012 as compared to 2002, (4,098 more than such deaths reported in however 0.2% decrease was observed in 2011) showing an increase of 1.0% as 2003 over previous year 2002. The population compared to 2011. Correspondingly, 0.3% growth during the period 2003-2012 was increase in the population and a marginal rise 13.6% whereas the increase in the rate of of 0.9% in rate of ‘Accidental Deaths’ were accidental deaths during the same period was reported during this year as compared to 2011. [Table-1(A)] Table – 1 (A) Percentage change in population, incidence and rate of accidental deaths over the corresponding previous year during 2008 to 2012 Percentage change in Percentage change in Percentage change in Year population over the accidental deaths over rate of accidental deaths previous year the previous year over the previous year (1) (2) (3) (4) 2008 1.4 0.4 –1.0 2009 1.4 4.3 2.7 2010 1.4 7.7 6.2 2011 2.1 1.6 –0.3 2012 1.0 1.0 0.9 (1) Figure 1.1 Percentage change in population, incidence and rate of accidental deaths during 2008 - 2012 (over corresponding previous year) 9.0 8.0 7.7 7.0 6.2 6.0 5.0 4.3 4.0 3.0 2.7 Percentage 2.1 2.0 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.0 1.0 0.9 1.0 0.4 0.0 -0.3 -1.0 -1.0 -2.0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year Population Incidence Rate was a decline of 3.1% in deaths due to causes A total of 3,72,022 (94.2%) deaths were attributable to nature and an increase of 1.3% due to un-natural causes and the rest of 5.8% in deaths due to un-natural causes as deaths (22,960) were due to causes compared to 2011, resulting in an overall attributable to nature, out of total 3,94,982 increase of 1.0%. [Table-1(B)] accidental deaths during the year 2012. There Table — 1 (B) Incidence of accidental deaths by natural & un-natural causes (2008 to 2012) Causes attributable to nature un-natural causes Total accidental deaths % change % change Year % change over over Incidence over previous Incidence Incidence previous previous year year year (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) 2008 23,993 –4.6 3,18,316 0.8 3,42,309 0.4 2009 22,255 –7.2 3,34,766 5.2 3,57,021 4.3 2010 25,066 12.6 3,59,583 7.4 3,84,649 7.7 2011 23,690 –5.5 3,67,194 2.1 3,90,884 1.6 2012 22,960 –3.1 3,72,022 1.3 3,94,982 1.0 (2) Figure 1.2 , Incidence of accidental deaths by natural and un-natural causes (2008 - 2012) 450000 400000 350000 300000 250000 Incidence 200000 372022 367194 359583 334766 318316 150000 100000 50000 23993 22255 25066 23690 22960 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year CAUSES ATTRIBUTABLE TO NATURE UNNATURAL CAUSES Incidence & rate of accidental deaths in accidental deaths in the country. The other States, UTs and Cities (Table-1.2) States having larger percentage share in total accidental deaths were Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra has reported 62,095 (9.1%), Tamil Nadu (8.3%) and Andhra accidental deaths out of 3,94,982 such deaths Pradesh (7.6%). However, Gujarat (6.3%), in the country during the year and remained at Karnataka (6.1%), West Bengal (6.1%) and the top with nearly one-sixth (15.7%) of total Rajasthan (6.0%) have also reported significant accidental deaths reported in the country. Uttar shares of deaths due to accidents during 2012. Pradesh, the most populous State in the country with population share of 16.9%, on the other hand, has accounted for 7.6% of Figure 1.3 Percentage share of major States in accidental deaths during 2012 MAHARASHTRA OTHERS 15.7% 23.6% CHHATTISGARH ANDHRA PRADESH 3.6% 7.6% WEST BENGAL 6.1% MADHYA PRADESH 9.1% RAJASTHAN 6.0% UTTAR PRADESH KARNATAKA 7.6% 6.1% TAMIL NADU GUJARAT 8.3% 6.3% (3) The highest rate of accidental deaths ‘accidental deaths’ than the all-India average was reported from Puducherry (80.1) followed of 32.6 deaths per one lakh of population. by Chhattisgarh (58.2), Goa (58.1) and The grouping of the States/UTs as more Maharashtra (54.1) against the national accident prone and less accident prone on average rate of 32.6. the basis of their rates of accidental deaths vis-à-vis the all-India average rate is 17 States/UTs have constituted high presented in Table–1(C). risk areas reporting higher rates of Table — 1 (C) State/UT wise rate of accidental deaths in comparison to all India (Rate) More accident prone Less accident prone Rate Rate Sl. No. States / UTs Sl. No. States / UTs (more than 32.6) (less than 32.6) 1 PUDUCHERRY 80.1 1 A & N ISLANDS 32.2 2 CHHATTISGARH 58.2 2 ARUNACHAL PRADESH 32.2 3 GOA 58.1 3 MIZORAM 32.1 4 MAHARASHTRA 54.1 4 KERALA 31.7 5 MADHYA PRADESH 48.8 5 WEST BENGAL 26.8 6 TAMIL NADU 48.2 6 SIKKIM 26.0 7 HIMACHAL PRADESH 46.9 7 UTTARAKHAND 24.7 8 DAMAN & DIU 46.7 8 CHANDIGARH 22.3 9 HARYANA 46.2 9 JHARKHAND 20.2 10 DELHI (UT) 43.6 10 JAMMU & KASHMIR 19.9 11 GUJARAT 41.4 11 MEGHALAYA 19.7 12 KARNATAKA 39.7 12 TRIPURA 18.7 13 PUNJAB 38.2 13 ASSAM 15.4 14 ANDHRA PRADESH 34.8 14 UTTAR PRADESH 14.7 15 D & N HAVELI 34.6 15 MANIPUR 13.8 16 RAJASTHAN 34.3 16 BIHAR 12.2 17 ODISHA 33.1 17 LAKSHADWEEP 9.1 18 NAGALAND 3.9 Figure 1.4 Rate of accidental deaths in various States / UTs during 2012 WEST BENGAL 26.8 UTTARAKHAND 24.7 UTTAR PRADESH 14.7 TRIPURA 18.7 TAMIL NADU 48.2 SIKKIM 26.0 RAJASTHAN 34.3 PUNJAB 38.2 PUDUCHERRY 80.1 ODISHA 33.1 NAGALAND 3.9 MIZORAM 32.1 MEGHALAYA 19.7 MANIPUR 13.8 MAHARASHTRA 54.1 MADHYA PRADESH 48.8 LAKSHADWEEP 9.1 KERALA 31.7 States / UTs KARNATAKA 39.7 JHARKHAND 20.2 JAMMU & KASHMIR 19.9 HIMACHAL PRADESH 46.9 HARYANA 46.2 GUJARAT 41.4 GOA 58.1 DELHI (UT) 43.6 DAMAN & DIU 46.7 D & N HAVELI 34.6 CHHATTISGARH 58.2 CHANDIGARH 22.3 BIHAR 12.2 ASSAM 15.4 ARUNACHAL PRADESH 32.2 ANDHRA PRADESH 34.8 A & N ISLANDS 32.2 0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 120.0 140.0 160.0 180.0 200.0 National Average 32.6 Rate (4) The incidence of accidental deaths has due to ‘un-natural’ causes were 5.8% and increased by 1.0% at national level during 2012 94.2% respectively. The magnitude of as compared to 2011. Daman & Diu has ‘accidental deaths’ by causes attributable to reported the highest increase of 30.4% in 2012 nature has declined by 3.1% and that of deaths as compared to 2011 though the numerical by un-natural causes have increased by 1.0% increase was only 31 (cases). It was followed during 2012 over the year 2011. by Nagaland (23.9%), Mizoram (19.3%), Odisha (15.1%), Jammu & Kashmir (14.4%) Under causes attributable to nature, the and West Bengal (14.0%), while Sikkim has share of deaths due to ‘cold and exposure’, reported the highest decline of 44.9% followed ‘Starvation/thirst’, ‘torrential rains’ and ‘heat by Meghalaya (26.8%) and Tripura (23.2%) stroke’ has increased whereas the share of [Table-1.3] causes such as ‘avalanche’, ‘cyclone/tornado’, ‘earthquake’, ‘epidemic’ ‘flood’, ‘landslide’ and Males, accounting for 77.5% of total ‘lighting’ has decreased in 2012 over 2011. The victims (3,06,061 out of 3,94,982), were at a share of causes not attributable to nature has greater risk from accidents than females. 5.7% increased for causes such as ‘falls’, ‘sudden children (upto 14 years) succumb to accidental deaths’, ‘poisoning’, ‘suffocation’ and ‘traffic deaths during the year 2012. accidents’ whereas the share of causes such Most of the victims of accidents were as ‘air crash’, ’collapse of structure’, ‘drowning’, aged between 15 to 44 years. This group of ‘electrocution’, ‘explosion’, ‘factory /machine people has accounted for 59.9% of all persons accidents’, ‘fire arms’, ‘killed by animals’, ‘mines killed in accidents in the country during the or quarry disaster’ and ‘stampede’ has year. [Table-1.4] decreased to the previous year. [Table-1(D)]. Causes of accidental deaths – Table-1(D) The average rate of accidental deaths has marginally increased from 32.3 in 2011 to The percentage of ‘accidental deaths’ 32.6 in 2012. due to causes attributable to ‘nature’ and those Figure 1.5 Percentage share of various causes of accidental deaths during 2012 (Natural and un-natural causes) By Other Un- By Road Accident Natural Causes 35.2 10.5 By Electrocution 2.2 By Rail-Road & By Falls Other Railway 3.1 Accident 7.4 By Causes Not Known 5.5 By Poisoning By Natural Causes 7.8 5.8 By Sudden Deaths By Fire By Drowning 7.3 5.9 7.0 (5) Table—1 (D) Incidence, share & rate of accidental deaths by causes attributable to nature and un-natural causes during 2011 & 2012 2011 2012 % variation Sl.