Holi claimed its first victim last night as 1 person was killed and seven others injured after falling from a local train when someone from a passing train threw yellow powder at them between Kurla and Sion stations
Mischief-mongers once again threatened and claimed lives of unsuspecting commuters, helpless in the Mumbai locals spilling beyond capacity with life. Eight people half-hanging out of the train doors fell from a moving Central Railway (CR) train after some amorphous substance was flung at them. A yellow powder got into their eyes, leading them to lose grip and drop off the trains, CR officials suspect.
Dinesh More (27)
Stable > Bhandup resident was on his way home when he fell off the train. He has suffered a fracture in his arm and is admitted to Bhabha hospital in Kurla
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At least one person died and seven others were reported injured until the time of going to press. These victims were travelling in a slow Thane-bound local. Railway officials have surmised that some miscreants in a CST-bound train moving on an adjacent track threw some sort of a powder - presumably gulaal - at them, which led to the incident.
G Nityanand (26)
Dead >The Chembur resident was on his way home from Matunga and was to change trains at Kurla
Akhilesh Gupta (24)
Critical > He has been admitted to Sion Hospital with head injuries
Laxman Trimukhe (22)
Stable > The Dharavi resident suffered injuries on his right arm and right leg. He is being treated at Sion Hospital
The deceased, G Nityanand (26), originally from Tamil Nadu, stayed in a hostel in Chembur. An officer with Merchant Navy, he had returned from the sea a month ago. He had boarded the train from Matunga with his friends and was on his way home. He was to change trains at Kurla to go to Chembur. The autopsy will be conducted on Tuesday.
Dinesh More (27), a Bhandup resident who fractured his arm, was one of the seven survivors
Sources said officials would question inhabitants of slums in the area, which these miscreants could be from. The incident occurred around 7.45 pm, when commuters usually hang onto rods and footboards on the crowded trains on their way back home. DCP GS Bhandare of CR’s Government Railway Police said, “We have registered a case against unidentified persons under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 338 (causing grievous hurt).”
Srinivas (36) was also one of the injured. Pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi
“It seems that someone threw gulaal from the adjacent train. Though this is yet to be ascertained,” said Mukesh Nigam, divisional railway manager (Mumbai), CR. He met the victims at Sion and Bhabha hospitals, where they were admitted after the incident.
The victims were first seen lying beside the tracks by the motorman of a Kalyan-bound local, which was next after the Thane local. The matter was reported to the control room, which informed the GRP. Only recently the CR officials and the railway police said they were doing everything possible to educate slum dwellers about the life-threatening dangers of throwing stones or any other substance at commuters in moving locals.
Assistant medical officer at Bhabha hospital confirmed the incident. “Two people were brought in to the hospital with minor injuries around 8.30 pm. Kavita Parmar (20) has sustained injuries in her right ankle and Dinesh More (27) in his right arm. He also has a hairline fracture. We have also advised them to get admitted.”
Parmar, who was going back home to Kurla on her way from work in Sion, said, “I was standing at the door of the local as the train was approaching my station, when suddenly something hit my leg.” Officials guess that it must have been a passenger who had fallen off before her. “I was brought here by GRP officials. My leg is in acute pain,” Parmar said.
More, a resident of Bhandup, said, “I was heading back home from work. I was near the train’s door when the incident occurred around 8 pm. It felt like someone had thrown mirchi powder at us. I have survived with minor injuries but many in the coach ahead of mine fell from the train right in front of my eyes. I was injured as some person who fell from the train hit my hand hard.”
Past incidents
April 2012: Three people died and several others were injured after they fell from a moving train at Nahur and Mulund stations due to overcrowding.
Oct 2012: Two lost their lives and two others were gravely injured after they fell off a CR local packed beyond capacity during morning peak hours.
July 2012: A teenager died after being pushed off a Borivli-bound local at Bandra due to overcrowding while a woman fell into the gap between the platform at Borivli, during the motormen’s agitation.
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