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Time of India
11-06-2025
- Time of India
Thane tragedy: ‘CCTV cameras' view blocked by trains, those injured too can't tell how they fell'
MUMBAI: Central Railway on Tuesday set up a five-member committee of senior officials to investigate the sequence of events leading to the Mumbra tragedy. The probe panel includes the senior divisional security commissioner, senior divisional mechanical engineer, senior divisional electrical engineer, senior divisional engineer, and the senior divisional operations manager. CR's chief public relations officer Swapnil Nila said, "There is no fixed deadline, but the committee has been asked to submit its findings at the earliest." A senior RPF official said, "We have reviewed CCTV footage from the platform, but it doesn't offer much insight as the view was blocked by the trains themselves." Adding to the mystery, officials said even the injured commuters have been unable to provide clear accounts of how they fell. "There is talk of passengers being flung and colliding with the opposite train, but nothing is confirmed yet," an official said. The incident occurred at the Diva end near Mumbra railway station. Preliminary observations suggest the incident occurred when two fast locals-a Kasara-CSMT train and a CSMT-Karjat one-crossed each other ahead of the curve. It is suspected that shoulder bags or luggage brushing against passengers could have destabilised those on the edge. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Deze plug-in SUV is écht compleet. Ontdek het zelf. Meer informatie Undo CR has not imposed any additional speed restrictions on the stretch following the accident. Of the 13 commuters involved in the mishap, 11 were aboard the Kasara-CSMT fast local, while two were on the CSMT-Karjat train. Of the deceased, Vicky Mukhyadal and Mayur Shah were in the CSMT-Karjat train, while Ketan Saroj and Rahul Gupta were travelling on the Kasara-CSMT local. An official said scratch marks were found on the exterior of the Kasara-CSMT train's last coach. "It appears that a passenger's bag may have grazed the coach of the opposite train, which may have triggered the incident," the official said. Meanwhile, the local staff from Mumbra railway station who attended to the mishap victims are likely to be called in for questioning. The railway police, guided by the assistant commissioner of police, railways, CSMT, on Tuesday inspected the spot where the victims were found following the mishap to look for clues. -Inputs by Manoj Badgeri
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Time of India
CCTV, eyewitnesses unable to explain Mumbra deaths, CR sets up probe panel
MUMBAI: More than 24 hours after the Monday morning rush hour Mumbra tragedy in which four commuters died and nine others were injured — some after falling off two passing local trains and others while inside the compartment — Central Railway (CR) is still to conclusively determine what led to the unprecedented accident on the city's suburban railway network, reports Manthan K Mehta. In the absence of clear CCTV footage or inconclusive eyewitness accounts, the cause remains a mystery. CR on Tuesday set up a five-member committee of senior officials to investigate, but did not specify a deadline. They will examine all possibilities, including overcrowding, brushing of bags, possible quarrels, or passengers on footboards losing balance at a curve. Cops tracked another man injured in the incident to a private hospital in Diva, taking the count of injured to 10. Central Railway on Tuesday set up a five-member committee of senior officials to investigate the sequence of events leading to the Mumbra tragedy. The probe panel includes the senior divisional security commissioner, senior divisional mechanical engineer, senior divisional electrical engineer, senior divisional engineer, and the senior divisional operations manager. CR's chief public relations officer Swapnil Nila said, "There is no fixed deadline, but the committee has been asked to submit its findings at the earliest. " A senior RPF official said, "We have reviewed CCTV footage from the platform, but it doesn't offer much insight as the view was blocked by the trains themselves." Adding to the mystery, officials said even the injured commuters have been unable to provide clear accounts of how they fell. "There is talk of passengers being flung and colliding with the opposite train, but nothing is confirmed yet," an official said. The incident occurred at the Diva end near Mumbra rilway station. Preliminary observations suggest the incident occurred when two fast locals—a Kasara-CSMT train and a CSMT-Karjat one—crossed each other ahead of the curve. It is suspected that shoulder bags or luggage brushing against passengers could have destabilised those on the edge. CR has not imposed any additional speed restrictions on the stretch following the accident. Of the 13 commuters involved in the mishap, 11 were aboard the Kasara-CSMT fast local, while two were on the CSMT-Karjat train. Of the deceased, Vicky Mukhyadal and Mayur Shah were in the CSMT-Karjat train, while Ketan Saroj and Rahul Gupta were travelling on the Kasara-CSMT local. An official said scratch marks were found on the exterior of the Kasara-CSMT train's last coach. "It appears that a passenger's bag may have grazed the coach of the opposite train, which may have triggered the incident," the official said. Meanwhile, the local staff from Mumbra railway station who attended to the mishap victims are likely to be called in for questioning. The railway police, guided by the assistant commissioner of police, railways, CSMT, on Tuesday inspected the spot where the victims were found following the mishap to look for clues. - Inputs by Manoj Badgeri
News18
10-06-2025
- News18
'2,000 Deaths Each Year': 2023 PIL In Bombay HC Highlighted Mumbai Suburban Railway Accidents
Before the Mumbai train accident, a 2023 PIL flagged thousands of deaths on Mumbai's rail network, prompting Bombay High Court to say that passengers were treated like "cattle". A PIL, filed in 2023, had drawn the Bombay High Court's attention to deaths happening every year in the suburban railway. The PIL was accessed exclusively by CNN-News18, in the backdrop of the suburban train accident in Thane's Mumbra on Monday, in which four people lost their lives. According to the contents, the 2023 PIL stated that 2,000 deaths happen every year on the suburban railway. It also mentioned that 2,590 commuters had lost their lives in 2023, which meant an average of seven deaths per day. Nearly 2,441 people were injured during the same period. A total of 1,650 deaths were reported on the Central Railways, while another 940 deaths were reported on the Western Railways. More than 1,800 deaths were reported on Mumbai local trains, it stated. After the PIL was submitted, the Bombay High Court had pulled up the railways and had directed general managers to look into the 'very serious issue'. The High Court also said the human passengers are carried like 'cattle" on local trains and that the officers at the highest level should be made accountable. Meanwhile, the Central Railway's principal chief safety officer (PCSO) said they would probe the suburban train accident in Thane's Mumbra. It is being treated as an incident and not an accident, CR chief public relations officer Swapnil Nila told PTI. PCSO CK Prasad visited the site earlier in the day and carried out an inspection, he added. 'Relevant information is being collected, and efforts to identify the root cause are being made. The principal chief safety officer (PCSO) will conduct an inquiry into the incident that occurred around 9.10 am," he said. 'From preliminary investigation, it is found that the passengers were travelling on the footboard," Nila said. To avoid similar incidents in the future, all new locals will be introduced with an automatic door closure system, while existing trains will be retrofitted with it, Nila said. A railway team reached the spot at Mumbra station in the evening and took measurements of the gap between the two fast lines (Up and Down) tracks there, other officials said. As per Central Railway officers, eight passengers were found injured in the gap between two parallel railway tracks between Mumbra and Diwa railway stations in the morning, while five other passengers onboard the CSTM-bound Kasara-10 local sustained minor injuries. Railway officers said the Karjat-11 local from CSMT was crossing the Kasara-10 local at Mumbra when the incident took place. It was first reported by the train manager of a Kasara-CSMT train, officials said. Emergency response teams, including ambulances and railway medical staff, were immediately dispatched to the site, and the injured passengers were swiftly transported to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, Kalwa, and Civil Hospital, Thane, he said.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Time of India
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo 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.
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
4 dead, 9 injured in Thane train mishap
Thane: Four people died and nine were injured, two of them critically, when two overcrowded suburban trains on the Central Railway (CR) network passed by each other on sharply-curved tracks near Mumbra railway station on Monday morning. Eyewitnesses said the people hanging out of the crowded trains hit one another as the trains moved at high speed in opposite directions. The curvature narrowed the distance between the two sets of tracks. There is no official version as yet on the cause of the accident. Sources said that the staff operating the two local trains have been working every day during the morning peak hours for the past few years. CR is treating this as an 'incident' and not an accident, so it hasn't formed any special committee to investigate, but relevant information is still being collected to identify the root cause, officials said. Monday's tragedy once again highlighted the perilous nature of Mumbai local travel, among the world's most crowded suburban rail networks. According to Government Railway Police (GRP) statistics, at least seven people die while travelling on trains with high crushload. CR's chief public relations officer, Swapnil Nila, confirmed that eight people fell off between Diva and Mumbra stations around 9.10 am on Monday. 'Emergency response teams, including ambulances and railway medical staff, were immediately dispatched to the site, and the injured passengers were swiftly transported to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, Kalwa, and the Civil Hospital, Thane, for prompt medical attention. All possible medical assistance is being provided to the injured,' he said. The victims were all men and office goers. The deceased were identified as Ketan Dilip Saroj, 23; Rahul Santosh Gupta, 27; Vicky Babasaheb Mukhyal, 34; and Mayur Shah, 44. 'The principal chief safety officer will conduct an inquiry into the incident. From the preliminary investigation, it was found that the passengers were travelling on the footboard [of the trains],' said Nila. Of the four other commuters who fell off the trains, two—Shiva Gawali, 40, and Anil More, 51—are critical with severe head and leg injuries. They are being treated at Jupiter Hospital in Thane. Two others—Rehan Shaikh, 26, and Adesh Bhoir, 26—suffered fractured legs but are out of danger, officials said. Five passengers with minor injuries—Tushar Bhagat, 22; Manish Saroj, 26; Machindra Gotrane, 30; Sneha Konde, 21; and Priyanka Bhatia, 23—alighted at Thane station and were taken to the Thane Civil Hospital for treatment, officials said. What happened According to officials, the incident occurred in a 100-metre stretch near Mumbra station, when two suburban CR trains on the fast lines — Kasara-CSMT and CSMT-Karjat — were cruising at 75 kmph on a curve and crossed each other. Trains on CR's fast lines do not halt at Mumbra. While commuters posted videos on social media showing injured people lying on the tracks near Mumbra after falling off the trains, there is still no footage available showing how they fell. A senior CR official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they are looking at all possibilities. 'The victims have bruises on their legs and hands. It is still unclear what hit them or the probable reason behind their falling off the train. Shoulder bags have also been found at the site, so we are looking at the possibility of people hanging by the footboard wearing bags brushing against commuters travelling in the train coming from the opposite direction.' CR officials were seen measuring the distance between the two rail lines, as people have claimed that the two trains that crossed each other had touched. However, this is unlikely, said the senior CR official quoted earlier. 'There were scratches on the coaches. However, if the coaches had hit each other, at that speed, there would have been a derailment,' the official said. CR is also looking at the possibility of the involvement of the so-called fatka gang, the official said. Members of the notorious gang target passengers standing on the footboard of local trains by attacking their hands with sticks, causing them to drop their phones. 'There is another allegation that there was an argument that led to a fight in one of the coaches, which led to the people falling off,' the official added. Passengers who witnessed the incident recounted the horror, with some claiming they were saved from falling by other passengers. Deepak Shirsat, 23, who was in one of the trains, said, 'I boarded this CSMT-bound train at Shahad. After the Diva station, the footboard was overcrowded as passengers began pushing each other to make sure they get to alight at Thane. I was distracted on my phone, and suddenly the train tilted slightly. We held onto the handles, but in a flash, I saw two to three people fall off right in front of me. Someone behind grabbed me just in time. We tried to pull the emergency chain, but the train didn't stop.' Rescue efforts were swift, led by the Thane Government Railway Police (GRP) and commuters. 'When we got off at Thane, we rushed back to Mumbra along with the railway police staff. We helped carry the injured passengers into a tempo rickshaw and took them to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa. I keep thinking — if it had been raining, maybe the doors would have been closed and these fellow commuters would have been safe,' added Shirsat. 'We have initiated a formal investigation into the incident,' said senior police inspector Ashwini Dusane from the Thane GRP. 'According to initial statements from passengers, the bags of commuters on two overcrowded trains collided and caused a push-and-pull situation near the curve. However, this is only preliminary information. A detailed inquiry is currently underway.' Solution to overcrowding? Monday's incident again highlighted the perennial problem of overcrowded suburban trains in Mumbai, a city where at least seven people lose their lives on railway tracks every day. In 2024, 2,468 people died on the railway tracks in Mumbai, out of which 570 were due to falling off moving trains. The issue is exacerbated on the CR line where, in the last 15 months, over 600 people have died by falling off trains across Thane, Dombivli, and Kalyan. 'We have been demanding that the railways not operate long-distance trains on the first four rail lines on the Kalyan-Thane route and instead use the newly laid lines 5-6. This would prevent delays and late running, which will finally help in controlling overcrowding inside trains,' said Siddhesh Desai, vice-president of the Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh, a railway passenger union. However, CR officials said this cannot work as all the 90 long-distance trains arriving and departing from CSMT cannot be operated on rail lines 5-6 on the Kalyan-Vidyavihar route, as they would then need to be diverted on the fast lines, which would impact the local trains. Railway officials said there are two things that could make a difference in managing crowding inside local trains. 'There is a need for staggering office timings so that they start anywhere between 8 am and 11 am in the morning peak hours. This will help in reducing crowds at platforms and inside trains. There were at least 40 odd organisations and companies which had agreed to do so, but it has never happened,' said another CR official. Another way to reduce passenger load is to increase the number of 15-car trains on CR, the official added. Currently, CR has only two 15-car trains, which run 22 daily services.
