Passengers fall off a running local train due to overcrowding: 4 dead, 9 seriously injured

Incident between Diva and Kopar railway stations on the Central Railway line

Mumbai – 13 passengers travelling in a local train from Kasara to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus fell off due to overcrowding, of which 4 have died and 9 others are seriously injured. The incident took place on June 9th at 9:30 a.m. between Diva and Kopar railway stations of Central Railway. The injured passengers are undergoing treatment at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa. The condition of 5 men and 2 women is stable, 2 have been shifted to Jupiter Hospital due to brain injury, while one man has died. Three people admitted to Thane District Government Hospital have died.

Central Railway Public Relations Officer Swapnil Neela said in a press conference, “The local train going from Kasara to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus was packed with passengers. Some passengers were standing on the footboard of the coach. Another local train going down from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus came from the opposite direction. Both the local trains were traveling side by side at a section where the distance between the two tracks is minimal. Many passengers were standing at the door. They were carrying bags on their backs. These passengers brushed against the other local train, due to which, 13 passengers standing at the door fell off. The passengers and the guard of the local train informed us about the incident over phone. After that, we immediately sent an ambulance for the passengers. The ambulance, railway officials and employees reached the spot at 9:50 a.m. The injured were taken to the hospital.”

Credits : WION

Faster speeds of local trains not recommended on the dangerous curve

Sheikh, President of the Mumbra Passengers’ Association, said, “The curve along the railway line between Diva and Mumbra is very dangerous. Faster speeds along this curve are not recommended. Why does the Central Railway administration run local trains so fast along this curve ? I don’t understand. The train coming from Kasara is packed with passengers. It is very dangerous to run such a fast train along this curve.”

Central Railway’ awakens’ after the accident, takes decisions to save its skin

1. The new trains will have ‘automatic door closure mechanism’ (These trains are so packed that there is hardly any air circulating inside. If even the doors are closed, will people get air to breathe ? Has the railways thought about this ? Why do railways come up with such measures only after accidents ? Was the railway administration asleep till now ? – Editor)

2. Installation of automatic door closure mechanism to existing local trains will also be considered.

3. The third and fourth lines are planned up to Kalyan Kasara, while the fifth and sixth lines are planned up to Kurla. (The railway administration should answer – Why has it not been completed yet even after so many years ? – Editor)

4. The sixth line from Thane to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus will be upgraded. (Has anyone thought what will be Mumbai’s population by the time this happens ? – Editor)

5. Government and private offices should not have the same working hours. (This is being suggested for several years now. Who is going to tell public what action has been taken on this so far ? – Editor)

Railway services collapsed due to the influx of migrants : Raj Thackeray

The railway service has collapsed because of the influx of migrants. The railways are in a state of disarray, the traffic is in a state of disarray. There are no footpaths for people to walk on. There are no roads for vehicles. Metro, mono and other facilities will not solve the problem. How do people enter and exit the local trains? Try travelling in the Mumbai local trains in the evening. If doors are installed in the local trains, people will suffocate and die inside. Do you have any idea how crowded they are? They need different entry and exit doors. People’s lives have no value in our country, said MNS President Raj Thackeray in the wake of the railway accident.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pays tribute

The incident of 5 people dying in the accident is very unfortunate. I pay my heartfelt tributes to the deceased. We share the grief of their families. I pray to God that the injured get relief. The Railway Department has started an investigation into what exactly caused this incident, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Will do our best to save the injured : Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

We will do our best to save the injured. The Government has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the heirs of the deceased. The injured will be given Rs 50,000, Rs 1 lakh or Rs 2 lakh, and all their treatment will be doneby the Government, said Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Start fast local from Diva to CSMT : Demands Shiv Sena MP Dr Shrikant Shinde

Dr Shrikant Shinde, MP from Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency, has demanded that the railway administration start fast local trains from Diva to CSMT to reduce the congestion in local trains and control accidents. Work is underway to construct the third and fourth line beyond Kalyan and land is being acquired for this. When the local trains increase, it will be easier to manage the congestion. Along with increasing the new tracks, it is equally necessary to convert the 12-car local train into 15-car trains.

Other reactions

Dinesh Paithankar, Resident Naib Tehsildar, Thane – After receiving information about the accident, we started the assistance. We are trying to contact the relatives of the deceased and the injured.

MP Naresh Mhaske, Shiv Sena – The incident is very unfortunate. The administration should find out the reason behind this accident. It seems that this incident happened due to overcrowding. It should also be investigated if anyone pushed the passengers.

Former MP Rajan Vichare (Shiv Sena UBT)– There are not enough local trains on the Mumbai-Kalyan route. People have to travel at the risk of their lives. Local trains are overcrowded. Therefore, the frequency of local trains should be increased.

Former MP Kirit Somaiya, BJP – We could not increase the transport system at the same rate as the population in the Thane to Dombivli area increased; that is why the Devendra Fadnavis Government has focused more on the metro work. Efforts are underway to increase the capacity by increasing the coaches of all the local trains.

Written correspondence was done with the railway administration regarding the dangerous curve in Mumbra

• Railway Passenger Association Informs
• Trains tilt due to the load of 6,000 passengers on this dangerous curve

Editorial Perspective

The railway administration should clarify what was done post the correspondence.

At the dangerous curve in Mumbra, the trains tilt to one side. 6,000 passengers travel in the train at the time. The train tilts to one side due to massive load of these passengers. We had earlier written to the railway administration about this issue. At other times, there are usually 3,600 passengers, said Siddhesh Desai of the Railway Passengers’ Association. He said, “We have been repeatedly saying that the number of trains should be increased between Diva and Thane. The Prime Minister also accepted this demand; however, the railway administration did not take any action on it. (The people feel that the railway administration should answer, and the Prime Minister should also intervene – Editor) Even the engineers cannot do anything about the curve that has been constructed.”

Passenger Association warns of agitation a meeting is not scheduled

“Passenger associations have not been given time to meet for the last one year. Railways is spending more on stations under the Amrut scheme than on railways and railway tracks,” alleged Nandkumar Deshmukh, a representative of the passenger association. The association has warned of agitation if the General Manager of Central Railways does not give time for the meeting.

Editorial Perspective

It is well-known that Mumbai local trains are extremely overcrowded. But no political party has ever tried to find a solution to overcome this issue. The reality remains that it is not guaranteed that such incident won’t be repeated, and there is no possibility that the Government will try to find a permanent solution to this issue.