Four Dead, Six Injured as Passengers Fall from Overcrowded Train in Thane, Maharashtra

At least four persons, including a Government Railway Police (GRP) constable, were killed and six others were injured on Monday morning during peak rush hour after they fell from an overcrowded local train headed for Kasara between the stations of Diva and Kopar in Thane district, Maharashtra.

Authorities said that because of extreme crowding, the disaster most likely happened when people clinging to the footboards of two passing trains bumped into one another. However, the cause is still being investigated.

Railway Officials and Government Response

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated the matter would be thoroughly investigated and described it as “very unfortunate.” Eknath Shinde, the deputy chief minister, expressed his sadness and assured the victims’ families that “saving lives is the top priority.”

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar underlined the need to address passenger safety and overcrowding in Mumbai’s suburban train network. According to authorities, at least 12 people reportedly fell from the moving train, and four of them were declared dead upon arrival at local hospitals.

Victims and Injured Details

Ketan Saroj, Rahul Gupta, Mayur Shah, and GRP constable Vicky Mukhyad have been named as the deceased. At Thane General Hospital and Shivaji Hospital, six injured passengers—two women and four men—are undergoing treatment.

Swapnil Nila, the chief public relations officer for Central Railway, emphasised that the Pushpak Express was not involved in the incident, despite what was first reported. He verified that commuters standing on the footboards of two trains collided, resulting in the collision and the discovery of eight persons on the tracks.

Calls for Investigation and Accountability

The Shiv Sena’s Thane MP, Naresh Mhaske, demanded a thorough probe into whether the tragedy was caused by shoving, crowding, or a confrontation. Ambadas Danve, the leader of the opposition, called for responsibility, pointing to persistent safety issues on nearby trains.

The Thane District Railway Users Association’s president, Om Prakash Sharma, chastised railway officials for doing nothing in response to many warnings about the dangers of overcrowding.

Ongoing Safety Measures

The families of the deceased will receive financial support, officials added, and a high-level committee has been established to conduct a thorough investigation into the tragedy. The catastrophe serves as a sobering reminder of how urgently Mumbai’s suburban railroads must manage crowding and enhance passenger safety.