New Delhi: The Death Railway in Thailand is not just a popular tourist place but also a site with a grim history. It serves as a reminder of the many hardships that humans faced in the modern world, especially those who are helpless and defenseless against the imperial forces. The Death Railway got its name due to some heinous atrocities, and in this article, we will take a look at the history and significance of this place.
What is the Death Railway in Thailand?
The Death Railway, officially called the Burma Railway, was a 415 km railway which connected Thailand’s Ban Pong with Myanmar’s Thanbyuzayat (then called Burma). The creation involved humungous human cost, which is why the Death Railway is remembered in today’s age. It was constructed between 1940 and 1943 and it was built by Southeast Asian civilians whom the Japanese Imperial Army abducted and forced to work. The railway was built to supply troops and weapons in the Burma campaign of World War II.
The Japanese Army forced a minimum of 250,000 civilians of Southeast Asia to work for the construction of the Death Railway. Needless to say the working condition was pathetic, and over 90,000 civilians died during the construction process and so did around 12,000 soldiers. The Japanese forced Javanese, Malayan Tamils, Malayan Chinese, Burmese, Thai and people from Southeast Asia to work on the railway.
The horrific condition of the workers
In the erstwhile Malaya, the Japanese officers forced the plantation families to send their children and young healthy men for the construction of the railway. They rounded up civilians including children, imprisoned them to supply labour for the railway. The living and working of the forced labourers were horrific, with maltreatment, sickness, and starvation being rampant. People died from several factors including malnutrition, physical abuse, cholera, malaria, dysentery and tropical ulcers. The labourers that suffered the highest casualties were Burmese and Indian Tamils from Malaya and Myanmar. While the Prisoners of War got better treatment from the Japanese, the civilians got next to nothing.
The Death Railway today
Today, the Death Railway is a popular tourist destination due to its scenic beauty and historical importance. After World War II, most of the railway was dismantled and only the first 130 kilometres of the line in Thailand remained. The Death Railway starts from Ratchaburi’s Nong Pladuk Junction Station and goes to Nam Tok via Kanchanaburi. It takes around three hours for the journey to Kanchanaburi and the journey to Nam Tok takes two hours extra.
The Death Railway, or Burma Railway, a 415km line built during WWII, stands as a grim reminder of Japanese atrocities. Hundreds of thousands of Southeast Asian civilians were forced into brutal labor, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
