Thane, Maharashtra, June 9— At least four passengers died and six others sustained injuries after falling from a moving train between Diva and Kopar stations in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Monday morning, police said.
The accident occurred during peak commuting hours when a train en route to Kasara was reportedly overcrowded, forcing many passengers to stand precariously near the doors. According to an official, “There was a heavy rush on board. At least ten people lost their balance and fell off the train while it was in motion.”
Authorities were alerted when the guard of another Kasara-bound train spotted injured commuters lying along the tracks and promptly informed the control room around 9:30 a.m., Central Railway spokesperson Swapnil Nila said. “The injured were immediately rushed to a civic-run hospital in Kalwa. Four were declared dead on arrival,” he confirmed.
The victims, believed to be in their early 30s, have not yet been publicly identified. While the exact train from which the passengers fell remains unclear, the railway is investigating.
The incident triggered swift political reaction. Shiv Sena MP from Thane, Naresh Mhaske, demanded accountability. “How did they fall? Was it due to overcrowding, a scuffle, or something else? This must be investigated,” he said in an interview with a regional news outlet. He also questioned how such a tragedy could occur on an express train, noting, “This isn’t a local where overcrowding is routine. The administration needs to stay vigilant.”
Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve, expressed concern over the state of railway safety in Mumbai. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he called the incident “heartbreaking” and said it “raises serious questions about passenger safety on the Pushpak Express and similar routes.”
As authorities work to determine the cause, the tragedy underscores ongoing issues around overcrowding and safety in India’s suburban and intercity rail networks, especially in and around Mumbai, one of the busiest rail corridors in the country.
The Central Railway has yet to release a formal statement identifying the deceased or confirming which train was involved. Further updates are expected following a detailed probe.
