Mumbai Train Accident: 4 dead and 9 injured as people fall off an overcrowded train

New Delhi (India) June 10: Nine people were injured and four people have died after falling off a local train in Mumbai. The incident happened at approximately 9:30 a.m. between the railway stations of Mumbra and Diwa when commuters' baggage on the footboard of two trains that were going in opposite directions collided. The guard in one of the trains reported the incident to railway officials. 

According to the Thane Municipal Corporation, 13 people fell off the trains. The four passengers who died were named as police officer Vicky Babasaheb Mukhedal, Mayur Shah, Rahul Santosh Gupta and Ketan Dilip Saroj. The injured are receiving treatment at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa. Anil More and Shiva Gawali are two passengers who have been taken to a better medical hospital due to their critical conditions.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “The Railway Department has launched an investigation into the exact cause of the incident. The injured have been admitted to Shivaji Hospital and Thane General Hospital and are undergoing treatment.”

Eknath Shinde, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, stated that the state government and the railways would provide compensation to the deceased's family. 

The Mumbai Railway Passengers Association have said that they have complained repeatedly to the Railway Board about the Diva-Kalwa route's possible risk to the safety of passengers and requested action against the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM).

Swappil Nila, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) for Central Railway has stated that passengers clinging to the footboards of two trains travelling in opposing directions and rubbing against each other is one of the possible causes of the catastrophe.

He said, “Of the 13 injured, four died and four were being treated. The Railway Board has decided to retrofit all existing rakes, which will result in reducing the possibility of these occurrences. All the new rakes will be AC rakes with automatic door closure systems. We have requested all passengers to avoid travelling on the footboard.”

The Union Railway Minister and the Maharashtra administration came under fire from the opposition for denying any responsibility for the tragedy.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray said, “In the past two years, several incidents have taken place and people have lost their lives. No one is held accountable or taking responsibility. In such cases, the Railway department and the Minister must be held accountable.”

The Ministry of Railways has announced a significant redesign of non-air-conditioned (non-AC) train coaches with the goal of improving ventilation after the fatal incident. 

The revised design will include roof-mounted ventilation units and louvred doors to solve long-standing issues with insufficient airflow. Senior Railway Board members, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) team and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw were present at the urgent meeting where the decision was made.

The Chief Public Relations Officer Swapnil Nila said, “The purpose was to find a practical solution to the issue of automatic door closing in non-AC local trains in Mumbai. The major issue with automatic door closing in non-AC trains is suffocation due to reduced ventilation. After detailed discussions, it was decided that new non-AC trains will be designed and manufactured to resolve this key ventilation issue." 

Aadrika Tayal