Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 9: At least five commuters were killed and about a dozen others were injured when they fell off from running Mumbai local trains between Diva and Mumbra stations in Thane division on Monday.
While the railways have ordered an inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of the accident, initial reports said some passengers were hanging outside the coaches on footboards due to overcrowding and the baggage of the passengers in two trains running in opposite directions collided against each other bringing their owners down on the railway track.
The passengers reportedly fell around 9.10 AM while the Kasara-bound train, which started from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), was passing through the Diva-Mumbra area. People hanging off this train’s footboard collided with the passengers who were similarly clinging on to another train that was passing in the opposite direction towards CSMT, causing the accident, a spokesperson for the Central Railways said.
The railway administration and police reached the spot and the injured were taken to the nearest hospital. Following the Mumbra train accident, in Mumbai, the Railway Board decided to install automatic door locking system in all rakes under manufacturing for Mumbai Suburban services. All rakes in service will be redesigned and door closure facility will be provided in these rakes of Mumbai Suburban, the railway spokesman said.
Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, said that after the tragedy in Maharashtra, the Ministry has decided to have automatic door closure facilities in all local trains under manufacturing for Mumbai Suburban. “Besides, all rakes in service at present will be redesigned and the door closure facility will be provided in these rakes of Mumbai Suburban,” Mr Kumar added. Officials stressed that safety was Railway’s top priority and all efforts were being taken to prevent such mishaps from recurring.
According to preliminary information, around 13 passengers fell off the local train with five losing their lives and others sustaining injuries. The injured are being treated at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa, with two in serious condition and shifted to Jupiter Hospital.
Shiv Sena Lok Sabha member from Thane, Naresh Mhaske demanded a probe into the death of passengers. “The cause of the incident needs to be addressed. How did they fall…was there a crowd, were they pushed, was there a fight,” he asked. Mr Mhaske said, “One can understand if it was a crowded local train. But in this case, the tragedy happened in a moving express train. The administration also needs to be alert.”
Leader of Opposition in the State legislative council Ambadas Danve in a post on X said the incident of so many people suddenly getting out of the Pushpak Express and resulting in the accident is heart-breaking and serious. This incident raises questions about railway safety in Mumbai, he said.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the incident “unfortunate” and informed that a total of 8 passengers fell from a local train between Diva-Mumbra station, saying, “all injured have been admitted to Shivaji Hospital and Thane General Hospital and are undergoing treatment.“
Mumbai Railway Passengers Association demanded action against Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) as they made complaints couple of times to Railway Board concerning the life-threatening route from Diva to Kalwa.
“Many passengers have lost their lives on this route in the past. After the addition of two new routes between Kalyan and Thane, it was expected that passengers would get more local services. However, DRM reversed this decision and gave priority to mail and express trains on these routes,” the association said.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said, “When will the government realize the pain of the common people? This is not just an accident, but a sad and serious example of the negligence by the government and administration.” “Government should see that poor people are also commuting. Under the name of Vande Bharat trains thousands of crores are spent but who is travelling from these trains. Are poor people able to use them,” he added.
