Multiple Casualties as Overcrowded Indian Train Passengers Fall From Cars

CNBC AI News, June 10th – A tragic incident unfolded on June 9th in Mumbai, India, as passengers fell from a local train en route to Kasara, near Thane. Initial reports indicate that between 10 and 12 people tumbled from the overcrowded carriages.

Tragically, the situation resulted in fatalities. Conflicting reports suggest either four or five deaths. Injured passengers were promptly transported to hospitals for treatment.

The accident occurred near the Mumbra station in the Thane district. Railway authorities attributed the falls to severe overcrowding, with many passengers clinging to the doors due to the high density of commuters.

Swapnil Dhanraj Nela, the Chief Expert of the Central Railway, clarified that the incident wasn’t a collision. He suggested passengers riding on the footboards of trains moving in opposite directions may have been entangled as a potential cause. The close proximity of trains, approximately 1.5 to 2 meters apart, coupled with subtle tilting on curves, added to the risks.

Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture, with one passenger stating, “Had the train been traveling at a greater speed, the casualties would have been even more severe.” The passenger added that “The excessive crowding and the train’s tilt on this narrow curve exacerbated the danger. Despite complaints to railway authorities, no concrete action was taken.”

Indian Railways has launched an investigation into the accident and is planning to equip all under-construction suburban trains in Mumbai with automatic door-closing systems. Existing trains will also undergo retrofitting with similar door-closing mechanisms.

India’s railway network, the largest in the world in terms of passenger volume, covers approximately 64,000 kilometers. It transports over 24 million passengers daily. However, much of the infrastructure dates back to the British colonial era, and is a legacy that’s struggled with proper upkeep. While safety has improved in recent years, hundreds of accidents occur annually.

Official reports highlight the long shadow of safety concerns across the network. Between 2017 and 2021, over 2,000 railway accidents resulted in over 100,000 fatalities. Derailments accounted for nearly 70% of the accidents, citing track issues, poor maintenance, outdated signaling systems, and human error as the primary contributing factors.