Another tragedy struck Mumbai’s local trains today. Around 10 to 15 people reportedly fell off a packed train near Mumbra during rush hour—yet again, on the dreaded Diva–Kalwa stretch. It’s a stretch we’ve raised our voices about countless times, a route now infamously known as the “death track.” And yet, nothing changes.
The Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh, led by President Madhu Kotian and Vice President Siddhesh Desai, has repeatedly warned authorities about the dangers here. Representations have been made. Letters have been sent. Meetings have been requested. But the response has been silence—or worse, empty promises.
After the new railway lines between Kalyan and Thane were added, there was genuine hope. People believed that finally, we’d get more suburban trains and fewer deaths. The Prime Minister himself had said these new tracks would ease the burden on Mumbai’s local trains. But instead of giving relief, these new lines have been handed over to long-distance trains. Once again, daily commuters are pushed to the edge—literally.
This morning’s incident wasn’t just a freak accident. It was the result of delays, overcrowding, and neglect. Peak hour trains are already stuffed beyond capacity. When long-distance services get delayed, local trains are either stuck, skipped, or forced to take on more than they can handle. Today, that pressure claimed lives—or at the very least, left several passengers severely injured.
How many more will fall before someone takes responsibility?
This isn’t about blame for the sake of it. It’s about basic accountability. The Divisional Railway Manager cannot wash their hands off this. The Railway Board cannot keep prioritizing national routes over the safety of a city that runs on local trains. Mumbai deserves a local rail system that puts its people first.
The Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh has made its demands clear: immediate medical help and compensation for the injured, a dedicated 4-track corridor for suburban locals between Kalyan and Kurla, a strict no-entry rule for mail and express trains during peak hours, and most importantly, an autonomous body that oversees Mumbai’s suburban trains independently of national rail politics.
Because right now, Mumbai’s daily lifeline is being choked by decisions made far away, by people who don’t ride these trains, don’t stand in those compartments, and won’t ever know what it’s like to cling to the edge just to make it to work.
Enough lives have been lost. We’re not asking for a favor. We’re demanding what every Mumbaikar deserves—dignity, safety, and the right to get home alive.
