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 four people 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 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 four were declared dead.
Victims
Among the four passengers who died is a railway police constable who was on duty at the time of the accident.
Vicky Mukhyadal (34), GRP constable
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 had celebrated his 34th birthday just four days ago on Thursday. The family is from Sindhu apartment in Lokgram, Kalyan (East). Vicky lived with his wife, Deepa (30), and his son, Pranay, who will turn three years old a week later on June 16. As word arrived about his fatal accident, an atmosphere of deep sorrow pervaded his house. His housing society and neighbourhood was enveloped in a pall of gloom.
Neighbours said that Deepa received news of her husband’s death in the morning, after which she was inconsolable. Since Vicky’s parents and younger brother live in their native village in Jalna, the family decided to take his remains there for the last rites.Vicky’s neighbour Santosh Agavane described him as an affable person who always met people with a smile. “He celebrated his own birthday simply at home but was more excited about his son’s upcoming birthday,” he said. Society member Bharat Varghat said that Vicky did many good deeds during his posting in Kalyan GRP before recently getting transferred to Thane, where he even caught a thief.
Vicky had secured his job five years ago, after which he started living in Lokgram. Earlier he used to live in a rented apartment and purchased his own home two years ago. A year ago the dutiful householder also got his younger brother married.
“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.
Mayur Shah (44), Thane resident
The IT engineer’s journey to Dombivli, which turned out to be his last one, was meant to secure his future through a property purchase. The Thane resident, who dedicated his life to caring for his 80-year-old mother, worked at a company in Vidyavihar and was heading to meet a property owner about purchasing a flat that would have marked a new chapter in his life. His brother-in-law learned of his plans only after tragedy struck. One of Shah’s two married sisters collapsed in shock outside the mortuary upon receiving news of his death.
Rahul Gupta (27), resident of Diva
The deceased is survived by his youngest brother and two sisters. His father works as a security guard. Rahul worked as a helper in a stationery shop and handled deliveries. His family members said he was a conscientious son who supported the large family. The tragedy left his father grappling with an unimaginable loss.
“This is a tragic moment for our family,” he mourned, his words barely capturing the depth of grief that consumed their household. The simple statement masked the profound devastation that tore through yet another family.
Ketan Saroj (23), BPO employee
Ketan Saroj, who boarded the train at Shahad, was standing near the footboard in a less crowded local. Minutes later, a surge of passengers entered at Diva. As they moved through the crowded compartment, their bags brushed against those standing precariously on the footboard. The pressure caused Saroj to lose his balance and fall from the moving train, beginning a desperate struggle for survival that ended in his death at Thane Civil Hospital.
Passengers said they pulled the train’s emergency chain but that did not stop the moving train. “What is the use of the chain when it failed to work in an emergency,” said his friend and co-traveller Deepak Shirsat. By the time Deepak continued to Thane and returned to the accident site, Saroj had already succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Saroj had recently completed his BCom degree and begun working at a BPO in Ashar IT Park. His father, an electrician, said tearfully, “The incident has shattered me. Most of our household expenses were borne by my son.” He requested govt assistance for his other son’s employment.
Compensation by the Central Railway
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.
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.
