Mumbai: In a shocking incident exposing serious lapses in safety practices by the engineering wing of Central Railway, two passengers were injured — one critically — after flying debris and a 3-meter-long iron rod from ongoing railway work struck a moving Kasara-bound local train on Wednesday afternoon.
Incident Details
The incident occurred around 4:45 pm between Khardi and Umbermali stations. Stones and the iron rod allegedly got dislodged during slope protection and netting work along the tracks, striking commuters standing at the train doorway. Kasara resident Eknath Thomre, 45, suffered grievous head and facial injuries after being hit by the rod and falling out of the train due to the impact. He was first rushed to Kasara Government Hospital, then referred to Shahapur Government Hospital, and later shifted by relatives to a private hospital in Thane, where he remains in critical condition.
Another commuter, Rohit Sarukte, 24, sustained thigh injuries after being struck by debris and was discharged after treatment. Thomre works as housekeeping staff and is the sole breadwinner of his family, said relative Eknath Khadke. "The rod hit him directly on the face. His eyes have been severely damaged and he has a serious head injury," Khadke added. Thomre lives with his wife and two sons.
Safety Violations
The work underway involved installation of protective wire mesh on rocky slopes — a high-risk activity that railway norms mandate must be carried out only after taking a 'block', or a scheduled halt of train services on the affected line. However, preliminary findings suggest the work was conducted while suburban services were operational, allowing loose material and equipment to fall onto the passing train — a grave violation that has triggered serious safety concerns and raised questions over supervision and accountability within the engineering department.
Action Taken
Following the incident, three staffers from the engineering department have been suspended pending an internal inquiry. Railway officials maintained that such works are strictly regulated, but admitted that protocols appear to have been breached in this case. Railway Protection Force personnel recorded statements of passengers and eyewitnesses, while senior officials from the division visited the site. A detailed probe has been initiated to fix responsibility and determine how such dangerous work was permitted on a live track section.
Outrage and Demands
The incident has sparked outrage among commuters and passenger groups, who said the lapse could have resulted in multiple fatalities on one of the busiest suburban corridors. Rail Yatri's Subhash Gupta said, "This is not mere negligence but a criminal act. Carrying out such hazardous work without taking mandatory blocks shows a complete disregard for passenger safety. The inquiry must be concluded within a week, and those found responsible should be removed from service and their financial benefits withheld."
