Overcrowded train mishap in Thane kills four passengers.
The tragic incident took place between Diva and Kopar railway stations when the train was en route to Kasara. According to officials, the victims were traveling on the footboard of a jam-packed coach, and lost their balance due to the high speed and heavy rush.
Eyewitnesses reported that the train was extremely overcrowded, with many passengers forced to hang onto the doors and footboards. As the train picked up speed, several people lost their grip and fell off the moving train. The victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, where four were declared dead on arrival, while six others sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment.
Preliminary findings suggest that the tragedy was a result of severe overcrowding and lack of adequate space for passengers. Commuters and local activists have raised concerns over the repeated incidents of such nature and are demanding better crowd management and increased frequency of trains to ensure passenger safety on Mumbai’s highly congested suburban rail network.
Thane Train Tragedy: 4 Dead, 6 Injured After Falling from Overcrowded Local
Mumbai: A tragic incident unfolded on Monday morning in Maharashtra’s Thane district, where at least four passengers lost their lives and six others were injured after falling off a moving Thane train.
The accident took place around 9:30 am, when the Thane train, crammed with daily commuters, was heading towards Kasara. Due to the massive rush, several passengers were standing dangerously close to the edge, hanging on to the train doors. As the train gained speed, at least 10 passengers reportedly lost their balance and fell off.
A guard of another Kasara-bound train noticed the injured passengers lying near the tracks and immediately alerted the control room. Railway authorities quickly swung into action, and all the injured were rushed to a civic-run hospital in Kalwa. The remaining six are currently undergoing treatment for injuries, some of which are reported to be critical.
Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, stated that the initial alert came from the guard of a train traveling along the same route, who spotted the bodies along the tracks. At the time, it was not immediately clear which Thane train the victims had fallen from, but investigations are now pointing to a possible overcrowded express train that was mistakenly carrying local passengers.
Shiv Sena MP from Thane, Naresh Mhaske, has called for an urgent and thorough investigation. Speaking to a regional news channel, he questioned, “Was it due to overcrowding, a fight, or some other negligence? The cause of the Thane train tragedy must be determined.”
Mhaske added, “If this were a typical local train scenario, it would still be concerning. But this happened on what appears to be a moving express train, which raises more questions about the administration’s preparedness and safety protocols.”
He called the Thane train incident “heartbreaking and deeply serious,” and emphasized that it raised crucial questions about railway safety standards in Mumbai’s ever-busy suburban system.
Frequent incidents of overcrowding and accidents on the Thane train route have long been a matter of concern for daily commuters. Monday’s tragedy has once again highlighted the urgent need for better crowd management, increased train frequency, and upgraded infrastructure to accommodate the city’s growing passenger demand.
With the Thane train network forming a critical part of Mumbai’s suburban system, ensuring commuter safety must now become a top priority. Authorities are expected to release a detailed report soon and possibly implement measures to prevent such horrifying accidents in the future.