Two commuters killed after train runs over five during flash strike at CSMT

Two commuters died after a speeding train near Sandhurst Road station ran over five people following disruptions due to a flash strike organised by railway workers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus CSMT during the evening rush hours on Thursday Those mowed down by the train were walking on the tracks as trains had halted for a long time due to the stirThe agitation that brought Central Railway CR operations to a standstill was carried out in protest of the FIR filed against railway engineers in connection with the Mumbra tragedy leading to the complete collapse of the timetable as no trains operated from CSMT between 550 pm and 645 pm leading to chaos as all intermediate stations and leaving thousands of officegoers were strandedDomino effectThe 55minute suspension led to complete chaos on all CR stations The doors of AC locals in motion wouldnrsquot close and the trains were operated with doors ajar At junctions like Dadar Kurla Wadala and Thane the rush was unmanageable A few local trains en route to CSMT were shortterminated at Thane and sent back leading to localised protests by commutersThe protestThe National Railway Mazdoor Union NRMU and Central Railway Mazdoor Union CRMU jointly launched Thursdayrsquos protest demanding that the FIR be withdrawn The protest began around 550 pm when protesting engineers stopped motormen and train managers from operating services The agitation at CSMT ended after senior CR officials met the protesting engineers and assured them that the matter would be taken up with state authorities Services resumed gradually after this A CR spokesperson said ldquoTrain services were stopped at CSMT Four persons walking on the track near Sandhurst Road have been injured by the moving local train They have been taken to the hospital for treatmentrdquoThe Thane GRP had registered an FIR on Monday against two CR engineers mdash Vishal Dolas and Samar Yadav mdash in the accident case for core engineering and maintenance lapses under Section 105 culpable homicide not amounting to murder 125a acts endangering human life and personal safety of others 125b rash and negligent acts that result in grievous hurt and 35 common intention of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023According to the FIR a copy of which is with midday Mumbra and nearby localities had witnessed heavy rainfall in the last week of May and the first week of June this year which led to waterlogging on the tracks As a result some parts had lost ground support Subsequently tracks were changed on June 5 However the FIR states the tracks were not levelled and were tilted towards each other when the incident took place The Government Railway Police had consulted the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute for expert advice on the technical matterlsquoNo announcement led to mishaprsquoStranded with no information or announcement commuters who got stuck in the train for nearly an hour at CSMT due to a sudden protest by Central Railway employees decided to alight and walk to the nearest station Thatrsquos when the tragedy struck ldquoWhy cannot there be announcements inside the trains to update passengersrdquo asked commuter association member Subhash Gupta He added ldquoThey the commuters would not have jumped from the train had there been announcements informing and updating themrdquoThe body of Haily Mohamaya being brought to JJ Hospital right Yafiza Chougale being shifted from JJ Hospital PICSMADHULIKA RAM KAVATTURldquoThere was not a single announcement at any of the stations either This is sheer madness How do they manage the railways like this Commuters are left without a clue and had no idea that there was such a big disruptionrdquo said Shekhar Siddhaye a commuter ldquoThe Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh strongly condemns the unlawful and insensitive behaviour of railway employees and administration who have put the lives of passengers at risk mdash the very passengers whose fares keep the railways runningrdquo added DesaiFive hit by train two killedThe victims were taken to JJ Hospital The two dead include a 45yearold unidentified male and Haily Mohamaya 19 Of the three injured Hailyrsquos aunt Khushbu Mohamaya has a right shoulder dislocation and face abrasions with the possibility of severe internal injuries Kaif Chougale 22 complained of abdominal pain when brought in while his mother Yafiza Chougale suffered severe head injuries Yafiza had to be given CPR for 1517 minutes and was later intubated by doctors at JJ Hospital However the mother and son took a discharge against medical advice Ritika Gondhalekar