600 killed every year falling from Mumbai local trains

More than 5,000 commuters have lost their lives and at least 15,000 are seriously injured after falling from moving locals in Mumbai between 2005 and 2012. This was revealed in the statistics provided by the Government Railway Police (GRP) recently.

“At least 636 commuters die while 1,897 get injured every year after falling from moving trains in Mumbai,” said a GRP officer. He added that regular announcements on the public address system both by the Central and Western railways and through newspapers warning commuters not to travel on footboards or hang out of trains is not helping curb such accidents.

“Last year, 834 commuters died and 2,006 were seriously injured after falling from moving trains. The corresponding figures in 2011 were 736 and 1,988 respectively,” pointed out the officer. “There has been a 13 percent increase in the number of deaths in 2012 as compared to 2011.”    

In 2007, as many as 647 commuters died after falling down from moving trains. The railways recorded 625 deaths in 2009, 615 deaths each in 2008 and 2006, 519 in 2010 and 495 in 2005. 

Sameer Zaveri, a railway activist and director (accident) of Mumbai Suburban Passengers’ Association, said, “The railways should run more locals for a safer journey and rakes should have doors that close automatically to prevent such accidents.  Second, as per the high court order, the railways should set up an emergency medical centre at Dadar (CR) to treat injured commuters. It should set up similar centres at Kurla, Thane, Dombivli, Kalyan, Karjat, Wadala, Vashi, Panvel, Churchgate, Mumbai Central, Bandra, Andheri, Borivli, Vasai and Palghar stations at the earliest.” 

Atul Rane, chief spokesperson of CR, said, “The CR currently runs 16 services with 15-car trains every day from CST to Kalyan during the peak hours to reduce overcrowding. We have converted all the nine-car services into 12-car ones to accommodate more commuters on the main line.”