Mumbai Suburban Railways Report 2,282 Deaths in 2024, Safety Measures Urged

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Lok Sabha that Mumbai’s suburban railway network recorded 2,282 fatalities in 2024, attributed to trespassing, pole collisions, falls from moving trains, platform gap incidents, and other causes. Responding to Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil’s concerns on commuter safety, Vaishnaw detailed that Mumbai saw 1,408 deaths, Thane 615, Raigarh 128, and Navi Mumbai 131, based on Government Railway Police (GRP) data.

Vaishnaw emphasized that ‘police’ and ‘public order’ fall under state jurisdiction, with GRP and district police primarily responsible for crime prevention and investigation on railways. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) supports these efforts by securing railway property and passenger areas. Following a recent incident near Mumbra station, a committee has been formed to probe its causes.

To enhance safety, Vaishnaw highlighted the introduction of air-conditioned local trains with automatic doors, which prevent passengers from hanging on footboards or boarding moving trains—key causes of fatal accidents. These doors remain closed during transit and open only at stations. He noted that increasing train frequency is ongoing, subject to operational feasibility and resources.

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The alarming death toll has sparked calls for urgent infrastructure upgrades, including more foot overbridges, boundary walls, and advanced signaling systems to address overcrowding and trespassing, major contributors to the fatalities.

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