Mumbai mishap: Make local train safety a priority

THE tragedy near Mumbai’s Mumbra and Diva stations that killed at least four persons and injured several others is a searing reminder of a longstanding truth — India’s local trains, while lifelines to millions, are often deadly. Overcrowded compartments, open doors and inadequate infrastructure have claimed hundreds of lives over the years across the country, but the response remains piecemeal and reactionary. The Mumbai suburban rail network is among the busiest in the world. It carries over 7.5 million passengers daily. Most of them are daily commuters travelling to work and back home. Yet, the investment in its safety has not kept pace with this burden. Monday’s incident reportedly occurred when passengers were thrown off from moving coaches, possibly after hitting an object outside, compounded by the crush of bodies and open doors. A witness claimed a dangling bag from a train window struck passengers, triggering the deadly fall.