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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
8 fall off 2 morning fast locals passing each other at Mumbra stn; four killed
Thane: Commuters falling off overcrowded local trains is a tragedy Mumbai sees every day. But in an incident without precedent even given this unfortunate reality, eight commuters fell off two local fast trains passing each other at Thane's Mumbra station during the morning rush hour Monday. Four of them died and four others were injured. Five others inside one of the trains were also hurt. The incident occurred at 9.10am at the Diva end of the station when an overcrowded Kasara–CSMT train and a CSMT–Karjat local crossed each other between platforms 3 and 4. The stretch is one of the most congested on Central Railway, which caters to lakhs from Thane, Kalyan and far-flung suburbs like Karjat and Kasara. A preliminary probe by Thane GRP indicated the victims were travelling on footboards of the two trains, and their backpacks may have brushed against each other, causing some to lose balance and fall. "The exact cause is not confirmed. CCTV footage is being examined," said CR's chief public relations officer Swapnil Nila. Late evening, CR officials said they suspect a metal object may have brushed against the overcrowded CSMT-bound local, causing the tragedy. CR has launched an investigation into scratch marks found on the exterior of the last coach of that train. CR is ascertaining if the marks were sustained during the incident or were pre-existing. XXX Train fall deaths in MMR last yr, 58% in Thane-Kalyan Some activists said overcrowding combined with the platform curve may have led to eight commuters simultaneously falling off two local fast trains going in opposite directions at Mumbra station Monday morning. Central Railway, however, clarified the incident did not occur on the curve. Some speculated that scuffles inside compartments might have been a cause. About the scratch marks found on the exterior of the last coach of the CSMT-bound train involved in the incident, a CR official said the rake was taken to Kalwa car shed to ascertain if the marks were sustained during the incident or were pre-existing. Those dead were identified as Ketan Saroj (23), a BPO employee and resident of Ulhasnagar, Vicky Mukhyadal (34), a railway policeman returning home to Kalyan from duty, Rahul Gupta (27) from Diva, and Mayur Shah (44) from Thane. The nine injured were Priyanka Bhatia (26) from Shahad; Sneha Dhonde (21) from Titwala; Adesh Bhoir (26) from Kasara; Rihan Shaikh (26) from Bhiwandi; Tushar Bhagat (22) from Titwala; Manish Saroj (26) from Diva; Machhindra Gotarne (39) from Vashind; and Shiva Gavli (23) and Anil More (40). They were all admitted to Jupiter Hospital. It was not clear how many people fell from each of the trains, railway officials said. Of the four dead, though, Mukhyadal was in the Karjat-bound train and two others – Saroj and Gupta -- were in the CSMT-bound local; it is not yet clear which train Shah fell off. Sources said the guard of the Kasara–CSMT train raised an alarm after spotting passengers lying between the tracks. Eyewitnesses at Mumbra described a horrific scene with injured commuters lying in the gap between the up and down fast lines. Commuters and cops immediately jumped onto the tracks to help. Commuter Deepak Shirsat said crowding at Diva led to intense footboard pressure, causing his friend to fall. "We tried pulling the chain, but it didn't stop the train," he said. CR's chief PRO Nila said, "Of the nine injured, five were hurt while travelling inside the compartment, and four fell off the train. All were shifted to nearby hospitals." A CR official said, "This is an unheard-of incident in the history of Mumbai's suburban system. There are incidents of people falling down but these are isolated. It is shocking 8 people fell at the same time." He said the gap between two passing trains is 2 m or 6.5 ft. It means a person has to be hanging out by 3.5 ft to have collided with a passenger from opposite train. "This is indeed baffling," he said. The railways have now decided to introduce non-AC locals with automatic door closure and enhanced ventilation features by Jan 2026. Parallelly, they have initiated procurement of 238 AC locals. Tenders for AC rakes were floated and cancelled for "administrative reasons" two years ago. On the sharp curve theory, commuter activist Rafique Shaikh said, "Load often shifts to one side due to the curve, making it hard for footboard travellers to hold on." CM Devendra Fadnavis said railways have begun an investigation. State minister Girish Mahajan announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for kin of each of the deceased and free medical care for the injured.
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Watch: 4 dead after falling off a train in Mumbai, NDA's 11 years in power, U.S.-China begin new round of trade talks & more
Watch: 4 dead after falling off a train in Mumbai, NDA's 11 years in power, U.S.-China begin new round of trade talks & more | News Wrap Here are the top headlines of the day Four dead after falling off local trains near Mumbai; Railway mulls automatic doors Four commuters died and nine were injured after falling off two overcrowded local trains in Thane during the morning rush hour. The incident occurred near Mumbra railway station. The deceased were identified as Ketan Saroj, Rahul Gupta, Mayur Shah and Thane Government Railway Police (GRP) constable Vicky Mukhyad. Chief Public Relations Officer of the Central Railway, Swapnil Nila byte Following this, the Railway Ministry has decided to have automatic door closing facilities in coaches of all existing and new local trains for Mumbai Suburban. Around 75 lakh commuters travel daily by suburban trains in Mumbai. The incident highlights the need to pay serious attention to overcrowding and passenger safety in the suburban railway system. India witnessed rapid transformations across diverse sectors in 11 years: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that India has not just become the fastest-growing major economy, but a key global voice on pressing issues like climate action and digital innovation under the 11 years of his government . The Modi government finished the first year of its third term today. In a series of posts on X, he noted that his government has 'a clear focus on good governance and transformation!' He also shared various initiatives and schemes his government launched over the years. He also said that 'the NDA Government has delivered pathbreaking changes with speed, scale and sensitivity.' Can ECI announce the date by which electoral-roll data of Haryana, Maharashtra will be handed over: Rahul Gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lauded the Election Commission's reported decision to share the electoral-roll data for Haryana and Maharashtra as 'a good first step' and urged the poll body to announce the date by which the data will be handed over in a digital, machine-readable format. He shared a screenshot of a media report that claimed that the EC has cleared the way for sharing the electoral-roll data for Haryana and Maharashtra from 2009 to 2024, following an assurance it gave to the Delhi High Court earlier in the year. There was, however, no official word from the EC on the reported move as yet. Govt relaxes SEZ rules for semiconductor, electronics manufacturing The government has notified several changes to the regulations for the setting up of special economic zones (SEZs) for the manufacturing of semiconductors or electronic components. These revisions include reducing the minimum plot size for these units, and allowing such SEZ semiconductor units to also supply the rest of India, apart from only exporting. 'The amendments will boost high-tech manufacturing in the country, spur growth of the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem and create high skilled jobs in the country,' a release said by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said. Following the notification of these changes, the Ministry said that approval has been granted for the setting up of two SEZ facilities in Gujarat and Karnataka with a total investment of ₹13,100 crore. U.S. and China are holding trade talks in London after Trump's phone call with Xi High-level delegations from the United States and China are meeting in London today to try and shore up a fragile truce in a trade dispute that has roiled the global economy. A Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng is meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at a U.K. government building. After a meeting in in Geneva last month, the world's biggest and second-biggest economies agreed to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparked fears of recession. Since these talks, the U.S. and China have exchanged angry words over advanced semiconductors, rare earth materials and visas for Chinese students at American universities. President Donald Trump spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping by phone last Thursday in an attempt to put relations back on track.
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Business Standard
8 hours ago
- Business Standard
Mumbai locals to have automatic doors, says railways as four die after fall
Mumbai locals to have automatic doors, says railways as four die after fall The Railway Board has decided that all new suburban trains in Mumbai will be equipped with automatic doors, while existing rakes will also be retrofitted with the system, a senior railway official confirmed on Monday. The announcement follows a fatal incident near Mumbra railway station in Maharashtra's Thane district during peak hours, where four people lost their lives and nine others were injured after falling from two overcrowded local trains. Collision on curve during peak travel hours According to police, the two local trains were crossing each other on a sharp curve when the accident occurred. Many commuters were hanging from the doors, and their backpacks reportedly brushed against each other, leading to a collision that caused several passengers to fall onto the tracks. The guard on the Kasara-bound train alerted officials to the incident. Emergency services rushed the victims to nearby hospitals, where four were declared dead on arrival. Victims and eyewitness accounts The deceased have been identified as Ketan Saroj, Rahul Gupta, Mayur Shah, and Vicky Mukhyad, a constable with the Thane Government Railway Police. Swapnil Dhanraj Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, confirmed that all the victims had been standing on the footboards of packed compartments. One injured commuter recounted that the passengers fell after those on the footboards of both trains collided during the curve. Around 7.5 million commuters rely on Mumbai's local trains daily. Political response and public outcry Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that an investigation is underway. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that support is being extended to the families of the victims, while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar highlighted the urgent need to address chronic overcrowding and safety issues in the city's suburban rail network. Responding to public outrage, Shinde stated, 'A high-powered Railways committee will investigate the matter. The truth will come out, and if anyone is found guilty, strict action will be taken.' Opposition leaders criticise government Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed condolences to the victims' families and used the occasion to criticise the Centre. In a post on X, he wrote, 'While the Modi Government is celebrating 11 years of service, the reality of the country is reflected in the tragic news from Mumbai… Indian Railways is the backbone of the lives of crores of people, but today it has become a symbol of insecurity, congestion and chaos.' He added, '11 years of Modi government = no accountability, no change, only propaganda.' Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), also called for safety upgrades. 'The Central Railway should increase local trains on important routes. Necessary measures should be implemented immediately for the safety of passengers. It is well known that the increased crowding in local trains is the main reason. After such accidents, it is not right to blame the passengers for their deaths,' he said. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi offered a sharp rebuke to railway authorities. 'The Railways should just shut up about what they are planning to do because none of them have been delivered as far as Mumbai local trains are concerned. These are not deaths by overcrowding but murders executed by an apathetic Reel Minister and the government of Maharashtra,' she posted on X.
News18
13 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
'Something Hit Our Coach': How Mumbai Local Train Mishap Unfolded; Fadnavis Says 'Railways Probe On'
Last Updated: Railway officials said the passengers probably fell as commuters hanging from the footboard and their backpacks brushed each other as two trains passed in opposite directions An eyewitness provided a chilling account of the horrific train mishap in Maharashtra's Thane district in which at least four commuters, including a GRP constable, were killed and nine were injured. The eyewitness said someone fell from a coach ahead of theirs and they felt something hit the compartment. The incident took place in a moving and overcrowded local train during Monday morning rush hour. The deceased were identified as Ketan Saroj, Rahul Gupta, Mayur Shah and Thane GRP constable Vicky Mukhyad. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the railway administration is looking into the cause of the accident, even as the Congress demanded the resignation of railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and MNS chief Raj Thackeray made a controversial statement, saying Mumbai's suburban railway system has collapsed due to an influx of migrants. HOW IT HAPPENED? The eyewitness to the suburban railway mishap said the chain of events began after someone in the coach ahead of his either fell after hitting a wall or 'something hit our compartment". According to the police, the incident took place between Diva and Kopar railway stations when the train was going towards Kasara. The passengers probably fell after commuters hanging from the footboard of two overcrowded trains and their backpacks brushed against each other as the trains passed in opposite directions, said Swapnil Dhanraj Nila, chief public relations officer (CPRO) of the Central Railway. This eyewitness, a Bhiwandi resident, boarded the Kasara-CSMT train at Kalyan station. 'The incident happened when the train reached Mumbra station. Someone from the coach ahead of ours fell off after hitting a wall or something hit our coach. At that time, three-four people from our coach fell down and some from other coaches also fell. I think 7-8 persons lost balance and fell onto the tracks," he said. He said his friend Rehan Shaikh (26), who was coming from Kalyan to Thane, was injured in the accident. The police said the guard of a train going towards Kasara alerted the railway authorities about the incident. Those who fell off the trains were rushed to nearby hospitals, where four were declared dead on arrival, they said. Officials said around 75 lakh commuters travel daily by suburban trains in Mumbai. The morning and evening rush hours in the suburban network are among the densest in the world. In the morning, the passenger flow is towards the south of the metropolis where a majority of the offices are located. The flow reverses in the evening as people start leaving for home towards Thane and beyond on the Central Railway network and Andheri and beyond on Western Railway. The Railway Board has decided that all new suburban trains in Mumbai will have automatic door closing facility and the existing ones will also be retrofitted to have the mechanism, an official said. WHO SAID WHAT? Fadnavis said the railway administration is probing the cause of the accident, while his deputy Eknath Shinde said steps were being taken to help the victims and their families. The incident highlights the need to pay serious attention to overcrowding and passenger safety in the suburban railway system, said the other deputy Ajit Pawar. 'A high-powered railways committee will investigate the matter. The truth will come out, and if anyone is found guilty, strict action will be taken," Shinde said, responding to concerns over inadequate facilities for Mumbai commuters despite their significant contribution to the railways' revenue. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery. '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," Gandhi posted on X. He added: '11 years of Modi government = no accountability, no change, only propaganda. The government has stopped talking about 2025 and is now selling dreams of 2047. Who will see what the country is facing today?" NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar said the Central Railway should implement measures like installing automatic doors in suburban trains in view of overcrowding. 'The Central Railway should increase local trains on important routes. Necessary measures should be implemented immediately for the safety of passengers," Pawar posted on X. 'It is well known that the increased crowding in local trains is the main reason. After such accidents, it is not right to blame the passengers for their deaths," he said. 'The Railways should just shut up about what they are planning to do because none of them have been delivered as far as Mumbai local trains are concerned. These are not deaths by overcrowding but murders executed by an apathetic Reel Minister and the government of Maharashtra," Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi posted on X. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw should own responsibility for the tragedy and resign. Raj Thackeray said the railways infrastructure in Mumbai has collapsed due to the 'hordes" of migrants. top videos View all NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad ridiculed the proposal for installing automatic doors in suburban trains, claiming commuters will suffocate due to this facility. Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published: June 09, 2025, 17:20 IST News cities » mumbai-news 'Something Hit Our Coach': How Mumbai Local Train Mishap Unfolded; Fadnavis Says 'Railways Probe On'
