Mumbai: In a tragic first for Mumbai’s suburban railway network, four passengers lost their lives and several others were injured after falling off two overcrowded local trains that were running on parallel tracks. The accident occurred between 9:00 and 9:15 am on Monday, during peak traffic hours near Mumbra station — a known sharp curve on the fast corridors of Line 3 and Line 4.
Officials said the victims were travelling on footboards, a common but dangerous practice during rush hours. It is suspected that as the two trains crossed each other on the curve, passengers hanging from the footboards — many carrying backpacks or bags — may have accidentally brushed against each other, leading to a sudden loss of balance and a deadly fall.
The deceased have been identified as Rahul Gupta (23), Ketan Saroj (23), Mayur Shah (50), and Vicky Mukhyadal (34), a constable with the Government Railway Police (GRP). Among the injured, seven are currently being treated at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa: Aadesh Bhoir (26), Rehan Shaikh (26), Tushar Bhagat (22), Manish Saroj (26), Machhindra Gotarne (39), Sneha Dhonde (21), and Priyanka Bhatia (26). Two others — Shiva Gawli (23) and Anil More (40) — who are in critical condition, have been shifted to Jupiter Hospital in Thane.
The Railway administration has ordered an inquiry into the incident. A Central Railway spokesperson, Swapnil Nila, confirmed that investigations are focused on the footboard collision theory. “Passengers were travelling on the footboards, which is unfortunately common. Their bags or bodies might have struck each other when the trains passed close on the curve,” he said, adding that the standard distance between parallel tracks is typically just 1.5 to 2 metres.
Reacting to the tragedy, Central Railway has announced critical safety upgrades. All new rakes currently under production will feature automatic door-closing systems, and existing rakes will be retrofitted with similar features, much like the AC local trains. “This is aimed at preventing passengers from boarding or travelling on open footboards,” Nila added. Additionally, the fifth and sixth lines between Thane and Kalyan — introduced to decongest the system — will eventually be extended to CSMT.
The incident has once again underlined long-standing safety concerns in Mumbai’s suburban network, which is considered the city’s lifeline but suffers from chronic overcrowding. According to daily commuter M.R. Joshi from Badlapur, “Five to seven people die every day on this network due to falls, run-overs, or other mishaps. This was a disaster waiting to happen.”
Political leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, expressed grief over the incident. Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan, who visited the site, announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the families of the deceased and assured financial support for the injured. “We will bear the full cost of treatment,” he said.
Kalyan MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde noted that the curve near Mumbra is especially dangerous when two trains cross simultaneously. “Some passengers either fell off or were crushed in the rush,” he said.
Survivor Tushar Bhagat from Titwala recounted the terrifying moment. “As the train curved, those near the doors got squeezed. Before I knew it, I had lost my grip and was on the ground.”
With public outrage growing, Mumbra Passenger Sangh President M.R. Shaikh renewed demands for additional services and crowd control measures, particularly on the congested Thane stretch.
This devastating incident stands as a grim reminder that Mumbai’s railway system needs urgent reforms — not just in infrastructure but in enforcing safety discipline among commuters as well.
