Key Facts at a Glance
- Date & Time: June 9, 2025, ~9:00 AM
- Location: Diva-Mumbra stretch, Central Railway (Thane, Maharashtra)
- Casualties: 5 dead, 9+ injured.
- Cause: Bag collision between passengers hanging on overcrowded trains
- Victims Included: Railway police constable Vicky Mukhyadal (34)
How the Horror Unfolded
During Monday’s peak rush hour, two local trains—one Kasara-bound, another headed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)—passed each other near Mumbra station. With compartments bursting beyond capacity, passengers clung to footboards, their bags protruding into the gap. As the trains accelerated, bags collided violently, hurling 13 people onto the tracks.
Eyewitness Shiva Sherwai described the scene: “I saw two fast trains passing simultaneously. Seven to eight people lay bleeding on the tracks, screaming for help”. Emergency teams reached by 9:15 AM, rushing victims to Kalwa’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital. Five were declared dead on arrival, including 23-year-old Ketan Saroj and railway employee Vicky Mukhyadal
Why This Stretch is Called a “Death Track”
The Diva-Kalwa section has long been notorious for fatalities. Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh labeled it a “death track” after repeated warnings to railways yielded no action. Three systemic failures converged here:
- Overcrowding: Trains operate at 250% capacity during peak hours, forcing passengers onto footboards.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Curves on this stretch reduce the gap between parallel tracks to under 1.5 meters. Recent rains may have further narrowed this space.
- Service Shortages: Despite Thane’s population boom, train frequency hasn’t matched demand. Former MP Rajan Vichare notes: “Local trains on Mumbai-Kalyan routes are insufficient. People travel risking their lives daily”.
Victims: Faces Behind the Statistics
| Name | Age | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ketan Dilip Saroj | 23 | Resident of Ulhasnagar |
| Vicky Mukhyadal | 34 | Railway police constable, on duty |
| Rahul Gupta | – | Unconfirmed occupation |
| Mayur Shah | 50 | Identified by hospital authorities |
| Unidentified | – | Pending family notification |
Among the injured, Shiva Gawli (23) and Anil More (40) remain critical.
Political Fury: “Deaths by Negligence, Not Accident”
Opposition leaders slammed authorities for decades of inaction:
- Congress leader Pawan Khera: “These deaths are victims of government insensitivity toward chronic overcrowding” .
- NCP’s Vidya Chavan: Highlighted absent ambulances and delayed services, calling railways “unprepared for emergencies”.
- Shiv Sena’s Naresh Mhaske demanded probes into potential pushing or fights during boarding.
CM Devendra Fadnavis called the incident “extremely unfortunate” and announced investigations , while Deputy CM Eknath Shinde prioritized medical care for the injured.
Railways’ Response: Automatic Doors & Hollow Promises?
Within hours, the Railway Board mandated automatic door-closing systems for all new Mumbai suburban trains. Existing rakes will be retrofitted 110. Yet critics note:
- Similar promises followed 2018’s Andheri station footbridge collapse.
- NCP chief Sharad Pawar revealed: *“6-7 passengers die daily falling from Central Railway trains”*.
- Priority remains on premium projects (e.g., Vande Bharat) over suburban safety.
5 Urgent Fixes Mumbai’s Locals Need Now
- Immediate Crowd Management: Deploy AI-based cameras to alert control rooms when footboard occupancy exceeds limits.
- Infrastructure Overhaul: Widen tracks on curves, install platform screen doors at high-risk stations.
- Increase Frequency: As Pawar urged, “Add trains during peak hours using idle tracks”.
- Affordable Alternatives: Integrate metro routes (e.g., Thane-Kalyan via Metro 5) to divert local traffic.
- Emergency Protocols: Station ambulances and medics at “death track” zones during rush hours.
The Human Cost of “Adjustment Culture”
Mumbai’s 7.5 million daily commuters embody a tragic resilience. As BJP’s Kirit Somaiya admitted: “We failed to expand transport at Thane’s population growth rate”. With fares on cab services like Uber/Ola surging 200% during peaks, locals remain the only option for millions.
Until systemic fixes materialize, the Diva-Mumbra tragedy will repeat. As survivor Adesh Bhoir (26) told doctors: “We hold bags in one hand, lives in the other. Today, both slipped away”.
Voices from the Ground: What Commuters Demand
- Rahul Tiwari, Daily Commuter: “Why spend ₹50,000 crore on coastal roads when local trains carry 80% of Mumbaikars?”
- Transport Expert Ashok Datar: *“Retrofitting doors alone won’t work. We need 12-car trains every 2 minutes.”*
- GRP Officer (Anonymous): “Track tilts on curves go unchecked for months. We file reports—no one acts.”
Will This Tragedy Finally Force Change?
Past accidents—2017 Elphinstone stampede (23 dead), 2018 Andheri collapse—sparked temporary outrage. Yet the Railway Board’s door-closing pledge suggests lessons might stick. For families like Mukhyadal’s, it’s too late. His colleague Sudhakar Shirsat mourned: “He was a smart officer. Left behind two children” .
The real test: Will automatic doors deploy before 2025’s monsoon peaks? Or will Mumbai’s lifeline keep claiming lives?
Explore Railway Safety Initiatives: Indian Railways’ Safety Upgrades
Mumbai Metro Expansion Map: Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
Commuter Advocacy Group: Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh
