Railways Announces Safety Overhaul After Four Dead, Several Injured in Mumbai Local Train Incident

Mumbai, 10th June2025: In a tragic incident on June 9, 2025, four passengers lost their lives and several others were injured after falling from a suburban local train between Diva and Mumbra stations at approximately 09:10 hrs. According to preliminary investigations, the passengers were reportedly travelling on the footboard when the incident occurred.

The incident was first reported by the Train Manager of a Kasara–CSMT local train. Emergency response teams, including ambulances and railway medical personnel, were dispatched to the site promptly. The injured were transported to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, Kalva, and Civil Hospital, Thane, for immediate medical attention.

Central Railway expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. Senior railway officials visited the accident site and the hospitals to assess the situation and ensure that the injured were receiving proper care.

In response to the incident, Railway Minister and officials from the Railway Board held a detailed meeting with the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) team to explore preventive measures. A major focus of the discussion was on enhancing safety through automatic door systems in non-air-conditioned (non-AC) local trains, particularly those operating in Mumbai.

One of the main challenges highlighted was the risk of suffocation due to limited ventilation in non-AC coaches with closed doors. To address this, it was decided that new non-AC coaches would be redesigned with the following modifications:

1. Installation of louvers in the doors to maintain airflow.

2. Addition of roof-mounted ventilation units to draw in fresh air.

3. Introduction of vestibules to allow passenger movement between coaches for better crowd distribution.

The first train featuring the redesigned non-AC coaches is expected to be ready by November 2025. Following tests and certification, the train will be operational by January 2026.

Additionally, the Railway Board has decided that all new suburban local trains will be air-conditioned and equipped with automatic door closure systems. A decision has also been taken to retrofit existing trains with similar systems.

Despite the incident, train operations on the affected section remain unaffected. A preliminary inquiry is underway to determine the exact causes and circumstances of the accident.