Also Read | Bombay HC calls for preventive steps over commuters’ deaths on Mumbai local trains
With stations such as Diva and Nalasopara witnessing the worst of the surge in crowds, commuters — squeezed for space in the compartments — are forced to hang on precariously from the footboard.
During peak hours, boarding a train is a battle — people spill over platforms, walk on the tracks to reach the other end quickly, and squeeze into already jam-packed compartments. The situation grows more chaotic at junctions where halts are brief and entry points limited, leaving little room for a safe and orderly boarding process.
While authorities have proposed closed-door AC local trains as a solution, commuters argue that these trains often lack the capacity to handle the volume of daily commuters. With space constraints and fewer coaches than on regular trains, AC trains may end up offering only a partial and privileged solution to a larger public crisis.
The situation is steadily deteriorating. Despite being the city’s lifeline, Mumbai’s suburban railway system is overstretched and under immense pressure. Unless comprehensive, people-centric solutions are implemented soon, such incidents may become disturbingly frequent — a grim reminder of the price commuters pay for simply trying to reach work.
Following the June 9 accident, the Bombay High Court raised concern over deaths of commuters on the Mumbai suburban railway. It instructed Central Railway to put recommendations on record along with a timeline for implementing these recommendations.
Referring to the summary of the affidavit filed by Central Railway, the court said: “It is disturbing that over 3,588 people died in 2024 on local trains, which means on average, 10 Mumbaikars are dying every day. This is alarming, despite you informing us that fatalities have decreased by 46% since 2009.”
Photo:
Emmanual Yogini
Waiting to squeeze in: People scramble to board a suburban train that has just arrived
at the Diva Junction station in Mumbai.
Photo:
Emmanual Yogini
Forced adventure: Women put their lives at risk as they hang on in a packed
compartment on their daily route.
Photo:
Emmanual Yogini
Bracing for arrival: Commuters wait for a suburban train at the crowded Nalasopara
station during peak hours.
Photo:
Emmanual Yogini
Perilous journey: Commuters travel on the footboard hanging on to bars on the door of a Mumbai suburban train approaching Thane station.
Photo:
Emmanual Yogini
Sisyphean journey: A jam-packed AC suburban train from Virar to Churchgate.
Photo:
Emmanual Yogini
Ladies only: Women scramble to board a coach exclusively for them on a suburban train
at the Nalasopara station.
Photo:
Emmanual Yogini
Bring it on: The arrival of a suburban train is eagerly awaited as it is the cheapest and
fastest mode of transport for lakhs of commuters.
Photo:
Emmanual Yogini
Jostling for space: Commuters on a jam-packed AC suburban train from Virar to
Churchgate.
Photo:
Emmanual Yogini
Peak-hour rush: Commuters who will travel in opposite directions stand face-to-face as they wait for trains at the Nalasopara station.
Photo:
Emmanual Yogini
In and out: A man struggles to alight from a crowded suburban train at the Nalasopara station as those who want to board the train
block his way. As every second counts, the tussle to secure even standing space never ends
Photo:
Emmanual Yogini
Brief respite: In Mumbai suburban trains, it is common to find devotional singing groups — known as bhajan mandals — regularly
performing devotional songs during the journey. One such group is seen inside the Habour line’s Vashi-CSMT train.
Published – June 22, 2025 11:46 am IST
Discover more from News Hub
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
