Another commuter falls from Mumbai local, dies

Mumbai: A 45-year-old man died after allegedly falling from a local train between Kopar and Diva railway stations, it is the third such incident in a week, police said on Wednesday

Niteen Chavan, a resident of Thane’s Dombivali township, fell from a crowded suburban train between Kopar and Diva stations on the Central Railway line at around 9 PM on Tuesday, they said. Chavan was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead, police said, adding that it could not be established from which local train the victim fell.

The Dombivali railway police have registered a case of accidental death and are further probing the matter.

Notably, this is the third incident of fall from the crowded local trains in a week. On November 27, 21-year-old youth Bhavesh Nakhate had died after falling from a crowded train between Kopar and Diva railway stations. In another mishap, 32-year-old Khopoli resident, who was traveling in a Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus-bound train, fell between Kalwa and Thane stations and succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.

Several residents of Dombivali on Tuesday held a protest against the growing incidences of deaths after falling from local trains.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had ordered formation of a committee to suggest steps to stop such incidents. Two Shiv Sena MPs from the district – Rajan Vichare and Shrikant Shinde – met Prabhu in New Delhi on Tuesday and gave him suggestions, including introduction of self closing doors in the trains, running of additional 15 coach rakes and increasing the height of the platform.