Unholy act on Holi eve kills one, injures seven on local

Holi eve turned ugly for commuters on a Thane-bound local on Monday evening. One person died and seven others were injured after miscreants threw “foreign substance” believed to be chilli powder on passengers between Sion and Kurla stations. Two commuters are critical.

The incident took place hours after the railway police commissioner said they would nab hooligans who throw balloons and colours on commuters.

The deceased, Nityanand, 26, a marine engineer from Tamil Nadu, was travelling with his two friends. He fell off the train after the powder entered his eyes. “His friends said coloured powder entered their eyes while they stood at the door. They lost balance and fell on the tracks,” said Mukesh Nigam, divisional railway manager, central railway.

Deepak, 30, and Srinivas, 30, who also fell on the tracks, sustained severe head injuries and are critical. “They have been admitted to the ICU,” said Dr Rajiv Singh, medical officer at the BMC-run Sion Hospital.

Akhilesh Gupta, 24, sustained a head injury; Sushant Gor, 20, hurt his left forearm while Lakshman Trimbake, 22, injured his right arm and thigh. “I was standing when a powdered substance entered my eyes. It was the same with many other passengers who then fell on me,” said Bhandup resident Dinesh More, 27, who injured his right wrist.

@DNA