Latest news with #CentralRailways
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Activist had flagged flaw in Mumbra stn curvature 4 months ago: ‘In accordance with standard practices', Railways had responded
On Monday morning, four people lost their lives and seven others were injured after passengers fell off two moving local trains near Mumbra railway station in Thane. According to officials, the incident occurred when Kasara-bound train, which started from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, experienced a sudden jerk while navigating a sharp curve between Diva and Mumbra stations, causing commuters standing at the doors of the two trains to collide and fall off. Notably, exactly four months ago, activist Ananda Maruti Patil from Diva had warned Central Railways about the potential for such a tragedy, urging immediate action. His concerns, however, went unaddressed—culminating in the very disaster he had tried to prevent. On February 20 , Patil, a 50-year-old resident of Diva, wrote to the Railway Minister and the General Manager of Central Railways, raising serious concerns about passenger safety on the Kalwa–Mumbra–Diva stretch. Patil said he was compelled to take this step following repeated accidents and mounting complaints from fellow commuters about the dangers along this corridor. 'Beyond Kalwa station, particularly around the Parsik tunnel, and on both the Up and Down lines near Mumbra station, as well as along the curved stretches leading to Diva, train coaches tend to tilt while in motion,' Patil wrote in the letter. 'During peak hours, due to extreme overcrowding, train compartments are heavily packed. As a result, when trains tilt, passengers standing near the doors lose balance due to the pressure of the crowd and are thrown out of the train. Several commuters have suffered serious injuries, and tragically, some have lost their lives. These incidents are happening repeatedly, creating a serious threat to passenger safety. I urge you to take immediate and appropriate action in this regard and inform me in writing about the steps taken,' Patil had said in his letter. A month later, Patil received a response from the Railways acknowledging the presence of curves along the stretch, stating that the track design, including the curvature, was in accordance with standard practices outlined in the Railway Manual. 'The major track portion between Kalwa–Mumbra–Diva is on a curvature. As per standard practice given in the Railway Manual, CANT (the raising of the outer rail on a curve) is provided in curve to facilitate the safe and smooth riding on the curve. While providing CANT, normally the outer rail is kept higher than the inner rail. Hence, the train leans towards the inner track while travelling over the curve. The technical survey has also been done for the same,' the Railways said in its reply dated March 18. Patil said the Railways failed to act after his formal complaint. 'The root cause of repeated accidents on the Mumbra–Kalwa–Diva route is the uncontrolled overcrowding and the tilting of coaches on curved sections of the track. I had officially raised this issue with the Ministry of Railways. While the authorities acknowledged the technical aspects, no concrete safety measures have been implemented. This continued endangerment of passengers' lives must stop. Mumbai-bound trains should begin from Diva station to reduce the load,' said Patil. Interestingly, the Railways has addressed similar safety concerns in the past. In March 2024, after multiple incidents of passengers falling from trains between Sion and Kurla stations, the Railways undertook 'track slewing'—a process involving the lateral shifting of tracks to increase the distance between them. This is done to reduce the risk of passengers standing at doorways colliding when trains pass each other at close proximity. The intervention was prompted by reports from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) highlighting repeated accidents in that section. Patil said a similar timely intervention on the Mumbra–Diva stretch could have saved the four lives lost in Monday's tragedy. 'It's heartbreaking to see how people from far-off places travel to Mumbai in such inhuman conditions. The congestion on platforms and inside trains reduces commuters to mere cattle. This dehumanisation of working-class passengers must end,' said the activist.
Muscat Daily
6 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
Probe on as 5 killed after passengers fall off moving train in India
Mumbai, India – At least five people died and seven others sustained injuries after several passengers fell off a moving train near Mumbra railway station in Thane on Monday morning, according to a spokesperson for the Central Railway. A probe has been launched to determine what caused the incident. The passengers reportedly fell around 9am while the Kasara-bound train, which started from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), was passing through the Diva-Mumbra area. People hanging off this train's footboard collided with the passengers who were similarly clinging on to another train that was passing in the opposite direction towards CSMT, causing the accident, sources said The accident, which occurred on the Down/Fast Line, disrupted local train services. According to Central Railways, the reason for the accident is believed to be excessive crowd on the train. Passengers travelling on the footboard on a local train from Kasara and similarly those on a train going towards CSMT, collided with each other and fell. 'Some passengers travelling towards CSMT fell from the train at Thane's Mumbra railway station. The reason for the accident is believed to be excessive crowd in the train. The railway administration and police have reached the spot. The injured are being taken immediately to the nearest hospital. Investigation into the accident has begun. Local services have also been affected by the incident,' Central Railways said in an official statement. 'There has been an incident where eight people travelling on local trains from Mumbra to Diva fell down. The guard of a Kasara-bound local train reported this incident. These people have been rushed to the hospital for their treatment,' said Swapnil Dhanraj Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Central Railway. He further added: 'This incident happened between Mumbra-Diva railway stations on the Down/Fast Line. People travelling on the footboard on a local train from Kasara and similarly those on a train going towards CSMT, collided with each other and fell.' '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 metres, but on curves, a slight tilt happens, and this could be an additional reason for the incident,' he further said. Soon after the incident, the Railway Board has taken two important decisions which is all rakes under manufacturing for Mumbai Suburban will have automatic door closer facilities and all rakes in service will be redesigned and door closure facility will be provided in these rakes of Mumbai Suburban. The injured have being taken immediately to the nearest hospital. Local services have also been affected after the incident. Railway officials and local police reached the site and began a preliminary investigation. Agencies
Scroll.in
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Rush Hour: 4 die after falling off Mumbai local train, Assam to push back more ‘foreigners', & more
We're building a brand-new studio to bring you bold ground reports, sharp interviews, hard-hitting podcasts, explainers and more. Support Scroll's studio fund today. Four persons died after falling off a suburban train near Mumbra in Maharashtra's Thane district. Thirteen others have been injured, of which two passengers are reported to be seriously hurt, according to a surgeon at the district hospital. The incident took place on fast train tracks between Mumbra and Diva. A spokesperson for the Central Railways said that the accident was suspected to have taken place as passengers travelling on footboards in trains in opposite directions 'got entangled'. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the Railways have initiated an inquiry into the cause of the accident. About 37.62 lakh passengers travelled on Mumbai suburban trains operated by the Central Railway in 2023-'24, while 27.24 passengers travelled on trains operated by the Western Railway. Last year, Mumbai's suburban train network recorded 2,468 deaths, or more than six fatalities every day. Read on. The Assam government has pushed back 303 'foreigners' and will continue to do so under the 1950 Immigrants Expulsion from Assam Act, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader further claimed that another 35 will be expelled once floodwaters recede. 'The Supreme Court clearly said the illegal expulsion act is valid and if the government wishes, they can expel the foreigners without going to Foreigners Tribunals,' Sarma added. The chief minister's remarks in the Assembly came two days after he claimed that persons declared foreigners were being 'pushed back' to Bangladesh under a legal framework. The Supreme Court, while hearing the challenges to Section 6A of the 1955 Citizenship Act, had said that 'there is no legal requirement for the Assam government to always approach the judiciary in order to identify foreigners', Sarma had said on Saturday. Read on. An additional superintendent of police was killed after an improvised explosive device allegedly planted by suspected Maoists went off in Sukma district. Two police officers were also injured in the explosion. The incident took place on the Konta-Aerobora road near Dronda village when Konta Additional Superintendent of Police Akash Rao Girepunje, Sub Divisional Officer of Police Bhanupratap Chandrakar and Station House Officer Sonal Gwala were patrolling the area by foot. During the patrol, Girepunje accidentally stepped on the explosive device, which triggered the blast. The officers were patrolling the area ahead of a country-wide strike called for on Tuesday by the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that Maoists were committing 'such cowardly acts' as they were frustrated by the continuous success of security forces against Left-wing extremism. Read on. A collective of 114 scientists, researchers and practitioners has called for suspending all construction and related activities on the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh. They argued that resistance to the project by local communities reflected a grounded understanding of its 'ecological, cultural, and socio-political risks'. The collective said that in the past, displacement often led to long-term socio-economic disruption, and compensation mechanisms rarely accounted for aspects such as land-based identity and customary rights. They noted that the site of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project fell in Seismic Zone V, which the highest risk category for earthquakes as per the Bureau of Indian Standards. The Siang river flows into Arunachal Pradesh from Tibet, and is the main tributary of the Brahmaputra. The river is the site of the proposed 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, touted to be India's largest dam. .
India Gazette
7 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Eleven years of Modi government marked by propaganda, lack of accountability: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted the Modi government over the train accident in Maharashtra on Monday, saying it was celebrating its 11 years in office when the reality of the country is coming from Mumbai, where 'several people lost their lives after falling from a train'. Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha alleged that 11 years of Modi government have been 'without accountability or change' but only about 'propaganda'. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said that instead of talking of the present, the BJP government is 'selling dreams of 2047'. 'While the Modi Government is celebrating 11 years of 'service', the reality of the country is reflected in the tragic news coming from Mumbai - several people died after falling from a train. Indian Railways is the backbone of the lives of crores of people, but today it has become a symbol of insecurity, congestion and chaos,' Rahul Gandhi said. 'Eleven years of Modi government = no accountability, no change, only propaganda. Who will see what the country is facing today? I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,' he added. Eight passengers travelling towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) fell from an excessively crowded train at Mumbra railway station in Thane district on Monday, officials from Central Railways said on Monday. The accident, which occurred on the Down/Fast Line, disrupted local train services. According to Central Railways, the reason for the accident is believed to be excessive crowd on the train. 'Some passengers travelling towards CSMT fell from the train at Thane's Mumbra railway station. The reason for the accident is believed to be excessive crowd in the train. The railway administration and police have reached the spot. The injured are being taken immediately to the nearest hospital. Investigation into the accident has begun. Local services have also been affected by the incident,' Central Railways said in a statement. The Modi-led NDA government is marking the completion of 11 years in office. Narendra Modi assumed office as Prime Minister in his first term on May 26, 2014, and assumed office for a third consecutive term on June 9 last year. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to participate in a survey on the NaMo App regarding India's growth journey over the past 11 years. In a social media post on X, PM Modi shared a link to the portal and encouraged people to share their views through the 'Jan Man Survey' available on the app. 'Your views matter the most! Take part in this survey on the NaMo App and let us know how you view India's growth journey over the last 11 years. #11YearsOfSeva,' the post read. (ANI)
India Gazette
11 hours ago
- General
- India Gazette
Mumbai: 8 passengers travelling towards CSMT fall from excessive crowded train at Mumbra Station
Thane (Maharashtra) [India], June 9 (ANI): Eight passengers travelling towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) fell from a excessive crowded train at Mumbra railway station in Thane district on Monday, officials from Central Railways said. The accident, which occurred on the Down/Fast Line, disrupted local train services. According to Central Railways, the reason for the accident is believed to be excessive crowd on the train. Passengers travelling on the footboard on a local train from Kasara and similarly those on a train going towards CSMT, collided with each other and fell. 'Some passengers travelling towards CSMT fell from the train at Thane's Mumbra railway station. The reason for the accident is believed to be excessive crowd in the train. The railway administration and police have reached the spot. The injured are being taken immediately to the nearest hospital. Investigation into the accident has begun. Local services have also been affected by the incident,' Central Railways said in an official statement. 'There has been an incident where eight people travelling on local trains from Mumbra to Diva fell down. The guard of a Kasara-bound local train reported this incident. These people have been rushed to the hospital for their treatment,' said Swapnil Dhanraj Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Central Railway. He further added, 'This incident happened between Mumbra-Diva railway stations on the Down/Fast Line. People travelling on the footboard on a local train from Kasara and similarly those on a train going towards CSMT, collided with each other and fell.' '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,' he further said. Soon after the incident, the Railway Board has taken two important decisions which is all rakes under manufacturing for Mumbai Suburban will have automatic door closer facilities and all rakes in service will be redesigned and door closure facility will be provided in these rakes of Mumbai Suburban. The injured have being taken immediately to the nearest hospital. Local services have also been affected after the incident. Railway officials and local police reached the site and began a preliminary investigation. (ANI)
