Mumbai Train Tragedy: Four Dead, Six Injured as Overcrowding Leads to Fatal Fall; CM Fadnavis Orders Probe

Mumbai, June 9 – In a heartbreaking incident during the Monday morning rush hour, four commuters lost their lives and six others sustained injuries after reportedly falling from an overcrowded local train in Thane district. Among the deceased was a constable from the Government Railway Police (GRP). The mishap took place between Diva and Kopar stations on a Kasara-bound local train, with initial findings suggesting that passengers clinging to the footboards of two passing trains may have collided due to severe overcrowding. Authorities are continuing to investigate the exact sequence of events.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and confirmed that a formal inquiry has been launched. “It’s an extremely unfortunate incident. An investigation is underway, and a high-level committee will ensure accountability,” he said on social media platform X. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde echoed the sentiment, stressing that “saving lives is our top priority,” while also promising assistance to the victims’ families.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar called the incident a serious wake-up call on the urgent issue of overcrowding and commuter safety in Mumbai’s lifeline—the suburban rail network. According to police reports, a total of 12 individuals fell from the moving train, many of whom were reportedly standing on the edges of the coaches due to lack of space. Emergency response was swift: railway authorities were alerted by the train guard around 9:30 AM, and by 9:50 AM, all injured commuters had been rushed to nearby hospitals. Four were declared brought dead.

The victims have been identified as Ketan Saroj, Rahul Gupta, Mayur Shah, and Vicky Mukhyad (GRP constable). The injured, including two women, are undergoing treatment at Thane General Hospital and Shivaji Hospital.

Contrary to some early reports, Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Swapnil Nila clarified that the Pushpak Express was not involved. He also confirmed that eight passengers were located on the tracks and that the accident appears to have resulted from passengers on opposite trains brushing against each other.

Public outcry has followed the incident. Thane MP Naresh Mhaske has demanded a thorough investigation to determine whether a sudden push, altercation, or general crowding was to blame. Meanwhile, opposition leader Ambadas Danve emphasized the growing concern around rail safety.

Om Prakash Sharma, President of the Thane District Railway Users Association, criticized railway officials for ignoring repeated warnings regarding unsafe crowding during peak hours. “This tragedy could have been prevented had earlier concerns been addressed seriously,” he said.

Authorities have promised financial support for the families of the deceased, and the high-level probe aims to identify measures that can help prevent such avoidable disasters in the future.