A woman injured in the June 9 Mumbra rail tragedy has said she was standing on the footboard when something hit her and she fell after experiencing a jerk. Most of the other injured commuters have said that they could not recollect what had happened. This was revealed on Tuesday during interactions of railway officials with various stakeholders. Investigations have revealed that of the 13 injured, eight fell on the tracks, six from a CSMT-bound train and two from a Karjat-bound one.
One of the trains had scratch markings on it. Prima facie, they seem to have been created by a commuter’s bag. Sources said that victims’ families can file compensation claims before the Railway Claims Tribunal , a quasi-judicial body formed to determine losses against Indian Railways in case of any natural or unnatural events causing losses to passengers or freight handled by Railways. “Railways has formed a committee of five divisional officers, who will investigate incident. They will also suggest measures for improvement,” a spokesperson said.
Political pressure
Informed that mid-day had warned Railways about such an incident in February 2024, MNS leader Bala Nandgankar said, “I am aware that such information had been provided to the Railways, and if any negligence is uncovered, no one will be spared. We have appealed to Railways to pay attention as we are pained by the deaths of regular commuters.”
Former MP Kirit Somaiya, who met Central Railway General Manager Dharam Veer Meena and other officials to discuss the Mumbra incident, said, “The GM informed a BJP delegation led by me that a committee of five senior officials would study the cause of accident and possible measures to address the increase of passengers in the Kalwa-Mumbra-Diva section.” Also, Samajwadi Party leader, Abu Azmi, who met Divisional Railway Manager of CR Mumbai Harish Meena, said that he has demanded more 15-car trains on the CR to create more space for commuters.
