Four dead after falling off local trains near Mumbai; Railway mulls automatic doors

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI, June 9: Four commuters died and nine were injured after falling off two overcrowded local trains in Maharashtra’s Thane district during the morning rush hour on Monday, officials said.
The incident occurred near Mumbai railway station when the trains were passing each other on a steep turn.
Chief Public Relations Officer of the Central Railway, Swapnil Nila, said the victims were travelling on the footboard of the two trains, one travelling towards Kasara and another travelling towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai.
The commuters were hanging from the doors of the crowded trains and their backpacks brushed against each other as the trains passed in opposite directions, 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, police said.
The Railway Ministry has decided to have automatic door closing facilities in coaches of all existing and new local trains for Mumbai Suburban, a senior official said.
Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, said that after the tragedy in Maharashtra.
The Railway Ministry has decided to have automatic door closure facilities in all local trains under manufacturing for Mumbai Suburban.
All rakes in service will also be redesigned and the door closure facility will be provided in these rakes of Mumbai Suburban, Kumar added.
Officials stressed that safety is Railway’s top priority and all efforts are being taken to prevent such inci-dents from recurring.
Around 75 lakh commuters travel daily by suburban trains in Mumbai, the official said.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the railway administration was probing the cause of the accident.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said steps were being taken to help the victims and their families.
Nila said an injured person informed that commuters fell from local trains travelling in opposite direc-tions after some of those standing on the footboards collided with each other.
Responding to concerns over inadequate facilities for Mumbai commuters despite their significant con-tribution to the Railways’ revenue, Shinde said, “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.” (PTI)