An analysis was undertaken of 3623 post-mortems conducted in the Civil
Hospital, Delhi, during 1991, covering 75 pet cent of civil police st
ations and all three railway police stations. The study showed that th
e death rate was highest in the age group of 30-39 years (29.6%), road
traffic accidents being the most common cause (33.9%), In general fou
r times more deaths occurred in males than in females. However, in dea
ths by burning it was three times higher in females. The attention of
all concerned should be drawn to this huge, untimely and tragic loss o
f lives.