Rising Deaths Prompt Safety Upgrades in Mumbai Trains

Mumbai's local trains, vital yet overcrowded, face rising fatalities despite safety efforts and new train designs

- MANOHAR KESARI

The journey on Mumbai's local trains, often called the lifeline of the city, is turning increasingly fatal. Every year, about 2,800 people die on the Mumbai suburban rail route. According to a GRP report, in the last 11 years, 29,970 people have died on this route, while 30,214 have been injured.

During the morning rush, the crowded trains sometimes lead to accidents. A recent tragic example occurred near Mumbra railway station, where four passengers died and nine were injured after falling from a train while two local trains were passing. As usual after such incidents, the Railways formed a high-level committee of five members to investigate the accident.

In response, the Railway Ministry made a significant announcement regarding suburban passenger safety.

Railway Ministry spokesperson Dilip Kumar told