Sixty-eight people died after falling off overcrowded trains under the Thane railway police’s jurisdiction between January and December 2024. This jurisdiction covers Thane, Kalwa, Mumbra, Diva and Airoli—one of the busiest stretches of Central Railway. During rush hour, these stations, especially those beyond Thane, become so packed that even standing on the platform is a challenge, let alone boarding a train, our extensive report stated.

The report cited examples like a professional from Kalwa who struggles with his daily train commute. He hires a regular auto driver, travelling in the opposite direction to board a less crowded train, or getting down at Thane to catch an empty local. The Kalwa-Mumbra-Diva stretch is infamous for being one of the deadliest railway corridors. The report detailed a deadly situation as a train came into Kalwa, with people clinging to overhead handles and steel bars.