Thane tragedy: CR probes if bags of commuters at train doors clashed, or metal hit a rake
8 commuters fall off two fast local trains at Mumbra, 4 die
THANE: Commuters falling off overcrowded local trains is a tragedy Mumbai sees every day. But in an incident without precedent even given this unfortunate reality, eight commuters fell off two local fast trains passing each other at Thane's Mumbra station during the morning rush hour Monday.
Four of them died and four others were injured. Five others inside one of the trains were also hurt.
The incident occurred at 9.10am at the Diva end of the station when an overcrowded Kasara–CSMT train and a CSMT–Karjat local crossed each other between platforms 3 and 4. The stretch is one of the most congested on Central Railway, which caters to lakhs from Thane,
Kalyan
and far-flung suburbs like Karjat and Kasara.
A preliminary probe by Thane GRP indicated the victims were travelling on footboards of the two trains, and their backpacks may have brushed against each other, causing some to lose balance and fall.
"The exact cause is not confirmed. CCTV footage is being examined," said CR's chief public relations officer Swapnil Nila.
Late evening, CR officials said they suspect a metal object may have brushed against the overcrowded CSMT-bound local, causing the tragedy. CR has launched an investigation into scratch marks found on the exterior of the last coach of that train. CR is ascertaining if the marks were sustained during the incident or were pre-existing.
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Some activists said overcrowding combined with the platform curve may have led to eight commuters simultaneously falling off two local fast trains going in opposite directions at Mumbra station Monday morning. Central Railway, however, clarified the incident did not occur on the curve. Some speculated that scuffles inside compartments might have been a cause.
About the scratch marks found on the exterior of the last coach of the CSMT-bound train involved in the incident, a CR official said the rake was taken to Kalwa car shed to ascertain if the marks were sustained during the incident or were pre-existing.
Those dead were identified as Ketan Saroj (23), a BPO employee and resident of Ulhasnagar, Vicky Mukhyadal (34), a railway policeman returning home to Kalyan from duty, Rahul Gupta (27) from Diva, and Mayur Shah (44) from Thane.
The nine injured were Priyanka Bhatia (26) from Shahad; Sneha Dhonde (21) from Titwala; Adesh Bhoir (26) from Kasara; Rihan Shaikh (26) from Bhiwandi; Tushar Bhagat (22) from Titwala; Manish Saroj (26) from Diva; Machhindra Gotarne (39) from Vashind; and Shiva Gavli (23) and Anil More (40).
They were all admitted to Jupiter Hospital.
It was not clear how many people fell from each of the trains, railway officials said. Of the four dead, though, Mukhyadal was in the Karjat-bound train and two others – Saroj and Gupta -- were in the CSMT-bound local; it is not yet clear which train Shah fell off.
Sources said the guard of the Kasara–CSMT train raised an alarm after spotting passengers lying between the tracks.
Eyewitnesses at Mumbra described a horrific scene with injured commuters lying in the gap between the up and down fast lines. Commuters and cops immediately jumped onto the tracks to help.
Commuter Deepak Shirsat said crowding at Diva led to intense footboard pressure, causing his friend to fall. "We tried pulling the chain, but it didn't stop the train," he said.
CR's chief PRO Nila said, "Of the nine injured, five were hurt while travelling inside the compartment, and four fell off the train.
All were shifted to nearby hospitals."
A CR official said, "This is an unheard-of incident in the history of Mumbai's suburban system. There are incidents of people falling down but these are isolated. It is shocking 8 people fell at the same time." He said the gap between two passing trains is 2 m or 6.5 ft. It means a person has to be hanging out by 3.5 ft to have collided with a passenger from opposite train. "This is indeed baffling," he said.
The railways have now decided to introduce non-AC locals with automatic door closure and enhanced ventilation features by Jan 2026. Parallelly, they have initiated procurement of 238 AC locals. Tenders for AC rakes were floated and cancelled for "administrative reasons" two years ago.
On the sharp curve theory, commuter activist Rafique Shaikh said, "Load often shifts to one side due to the curve, making it hard for footboard travellers to hold on."
CM Devendra Fadnavis said railways have begun an investigation. State minister Girish Mahajan announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for kin of each of the deceased and free medical care for the injured.
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