A tragic accident on Thursday evening near Sandhurst Road railway station in South Mumbai left three passengers dead and three others injured after being struck by a suburban local train.
The incident occurred around 7 pm during the evening rush hour just after a flash strike by Central Railway employees disrupted train services at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), causing overcrowding and unsafe commuter behaviour.
Overcrowding and Unsafe Crossing During Strike Disruption
The brief work stoppage, called to protest an FIR registered against two engineers linked to a fatal June 9 Mumbra train accident, halted suburban train operations from approximately 5:50 pm to 6:45 pm. This led to severe congestion on platforms and delays that frustrated commuters.
According to officials, the victims alighted from the wrong side of a stalled slow train and attempted to cross the tracks on foot instead of using the nearby foot overbridge. A fast local train was then unable to stop in time and struck them. Rescue teams arrived promptly and transported the injured to JJ Hospital.
Two victim were declared dead on arrival at JJ Hospital. The third victim, who was critically injured alongside three others, succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Strikes, Past Accidents, and Safety Challenges
This incident came in the wake of the ongoing fallout from the Mumbra train accident where overcrowding led to passengers falling off moving trains, resulting in four deaths.
The FIR against assigned engineers triggered protests from railway unions, causing service disruptions and crowding during peak travel hours. Despite safety campaigns, Mumbai’s rail network continues to face challenges with commuters crossing tracks improperly, often driven by overcrowding or impatience during delays.
Recent Major Train Accidents Across India in 2025
The tragic Sandhurst Road incident is part of a disturbing trend of deadly train accidents across India this year. In early November, a passenger train collided with a stationary freight train near Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens.
Other incidents include a deadly collision in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, where six died crossing tracks during a religious event, and multiple derailments and collisions reported nationwide causing dozens more deaths and injuries.
These frequent accidents underscore ongoing challenges of aging infrastructure, human error, and overcrowding faced by India’s vast railway network, emphasizing the urgent need for safety reforms and modernisation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The loss of three lives in avoidable circumstances is a somber reminder that safety must never be compromised, regardless of operational challenges. While workers’ rights and fair procedures deserve respect, commuter safety on public transport is paramount.
The Logical Indian calls for compassionate dialogue among stakeholders and for urgent collective efforts to strengthen infrastructure, raise safety awareness, and ensure respect for rules, so Mumbai’s transit can be a safe space for all.
