3 killed, 17 hurt as commuters fall off crowded Mumbai train

Three commuters were killed and 17 injured after they fell from overcrowded local train during the morning rush hour in the continuing chaos on the second day on Mumbai’s suburban railway on Thursday. Suburban services have been seriously affected since Wednesday morning following twin fires at signal cabins near Kurla.

Union Railway Minister Mukul Roy has announced a compensation of Rs2 lakh for families of the deceased.

Railway officials said that according to prima facie information on Thursday around 9am, some protruding object from a speeding fast Badlapur local heading towards Mumbai CST hit a signal post near Nahur station. This lead to the signal leaning towards the passing train, brushing commuters on the footboard of the crowded train.

"Seventeen commuters fell, one after the other. While two of them, who were flung away due to the impact, died on the spot, the third one died later. The fast train went and halted at Vikhroli, Ghatkopar and Dadar, ahead where passengers were rendered first-aid," a CR spokesperson said.

Of the injured victims, 12 are at Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, 2 are being shifted to Fortis, 6 at Agarwal Hospital in Mulund and 2 at Kalyan railway hospital and one to Thane.

Meanwhile, work on the burnt signalling panels will be complete by tomorrow and services are expected to be normalised by Friday afternoon.