Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jun 9: In the wake of a tragic accident that claimed five lives on Mumbai’s suburban railway network, the Indian Railways on Monday announced a crucial safety upgrade automatic door-closing systems will now be installed on all new local train rakes being manufactured for the city.

The Railway Board, in an official statement, confirmed that “all rakes under manufacturing for Mumbai Suburban will have automatic door closer facilities,” aimed at curbing accidents involving passengers falling from moving trains.

This decision comes after a harrowing incident on Monday morning near Thane, where overcrowded trains led to a fatal mishap between Diva and Mumbra stations. Around 9:30 am, as two local trains crossed each other, commuters standing on footboards collided, causing at least five passengers to fall to their deaths and several others to suffer injuries.

A preliminary probe revealed that at least 13 passengers fell during the collision, with five declared dead at nearby hospitals. The remaining victims are under treatment as investigations continue.

In addition to equipping new rakes with automatic doors, the Railway Board has also decided to upgrade existing trains on the Mumbai suburban network. “All rakes in service will be redesigned, and door closure facilities will be provided,” the statement added.

Mumbai’s local train system, often called the city’s lifeline, carries over 75 lac passengers daily. Overcrowding, especially during peak hours, has led to frequent footboard travel and related accidents, making the move towards automated doors a long-awaited safety step.