A major tragedy struck Mumbai’s suburban railway network on Monday morning as eight passengers fell off an overcrowded local train between Mumbra and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), with five people feared dead and several others critically injured. The incident occurred during the peak rush hour, once again highlighting the persistent and serious issue of overcrowding on Mumbai’s lifeline.
According to the latest reports, the accident took place around 9:30 am when a fast local train, now confirmed to be the Kasara local, was travelling towards CSMT. The mishap happened between Mumbra and Diva stations, a stretch notorious for heavy commuter rush. Eyewitnesses said the train was packed beyond capacity, and as it sped along the suburban corridor, several passengers lost their balance and fell from the moving compartments. Some reports suggest that the accident may have been triggered by sudden jerks or possibly malfunctioning doors, but officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause.
CPRO, Central Railway, Swapnil Dhanraj Nila says, “It is not a collision. In this incident, the passengers travelling on footboards in trains in opposite directions got entangled. This is one of the suspected reasons for the incident, as informed by a passenger. The distance between two trains is 1.5-2 meters, but on curves, a slight tilt happens, and this could be an additional reason for the incident.”
Emergency Response and Ongoing Investigation
Emergency services and railway authorities rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported. The victims were immediately taken to nearby hospitals, including Kalwa Hospital, where five were declared dead on arrival.
Among the five passengers who died is a railway police constable who was on duty at the time of the accident.
Vicky Babasaheb Mukhyadal, 34, who was attached to the Thane Government Railway Police (GRP), was headed to work in civilian clothes when he lost his life. Senior GRP officers said Mukhyadal was transferred from Kalyan GRP a year ago.
“He was a very smart policeman with good crime detection skills. He used to live in Kalyan with his family. The body will soon be handed over to them,” said Sudhakar Shirsat, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Thane GRP.
The Central Railway has announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Senior railway officials and a technical team are on site, inspecting the train and the affected stretch of track.
The incident led to temporary delays on the affected route as rescue operations and safety inspections were carried out. Train services have now resumed, but with slower speeds in the Mumbra-Diva section as a precaution. Railway officials have appealed to the public to refrain from speculation until the formal investigation is complete. They have assured that a detailed inquiry will be conducted to ascertain the reasons behind the tragedy and to fix responsibility if any lapses are found.
Mumbai’s suburban railway, which ferries millions of passengers daily, has long struggled with issues of overcrowding and commuter safety. Despite repeated warnings and past incidents, the pressure on the system continues unabated, especially during office hours when locals are packed far beyond their intended capacity. Many daily commuters, unable to board regular locals due to the rush, often resort to boarding long-distance trains like the Kasara local, further compounding the problem.
Authorities have promised further updates as the investigation progresses.
This is a developing story and more details are expected soon.
