At least five passengers are feared dead after falling from an overcrowded local train between Diva and Mumbra in Maharashtra’s Thane district. The incident occurred during peak rush hour and highlights the critical safety concerns in Mumbai’s suburban railway network.
Image Source: timesofindia
Thane Train Tragedy: Overcrowding Blamed for Fatal Mishap
In a horrifying incident during Monday morning’s rush hour, at least five people lost their lives and several others were injured after falling from an overcrowded suburban train traveling between Diva and Mumbra stations in Thane, near Mumbai.
The train, reportedly packed far beyond its safe capacity, witnessed chaos as multiple passengers—clinging to footboards and standing at doorways—were thrown off the moving train when it passed another train on a tight curve. Preliminary reports indicate that 10 to 12 people may have fallen during the incident.
Local authorities and railway officials confirmed that five people were declared dead on arrival at Kalwa Civil Hospital. Several others were rushed to medical facilities, some with serious injuries. The deceased are believed to be between 30 and 35 years old.
According to officials, the train was running with a “super dense crush load”, a condition where passengers are packed into compartments at more than double the intended capacity. This has long been a common occurrence during peak office hours in Mumbai’s suburban railway system.
The alert was first raised by the guard of a passing train who noticed people lying along the tracks and immediately informed the railway control room. Rescue teams and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) responded quickly, clearing the affected track and providing emergency aid.
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Location: Between Diva and Mumbra stations, Thane district
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Time: Morning rush hour
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Casualties: 5 feared dead, several injured
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Cause: Overcrowding and footboard travel
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Response: RPF and emergency medical teams dispatched; investigation underway
Mumbai’s suburban trains are lifelines for over 7.5 million daily commuters. But the lack of proper infrastructure, inadequate number of trains during rush hours, and the absence of automatic doors in many local trains have turned daily commuting into a hazardous affair.
Railway authorities had previously announced efforts to introduce automatic doors, increased frequency of services, and awareness campaigns. However, this tragedy has reignited calls for urgent safety reforms, including modernized coaches, better crowd management, and enforcement against footboard travel.
