Mumbai: A video has gone viral on social media, capturing a women precariously hanging onto the outside of a crowded local train in Mumbai during peak hours. Video once again drawing attention to the severe overcrowding issue plaguing Mumbai’s suburban rail network.
The 14-second clip, posted by Mumbai Railway Users on May 9 on ‘X’ formerly known as Twitter, shows a group of women standing on the footboard of a crowded local train, risking their lives.
The footage, reportedly filmed on the route between Kalyan and Mumbai CST, captures women clinging to the footboard, some visibly distressed while others desperately hold on as the train hurtles down the tracks. One woman is heard screaming, while another appears to be trying to avoid the camera.
The incident, according to the Mumbai Railway Users’ X handle (@mumbairailusers), was triggered by a 40-minute delay to the Kalyan Ladies Special train. The disruption led to overcrowding at platforms and inside train compartments, leaving many commuters with no option but to risk their safety by hanging onto the train’s exterior. The video quickly garnered 1.72 lakh views and has sparked a flurry of outrage from the public.
Reacting to the video, @RailwaySeva, the official X account of Indian Railways, posted, “For necessary action escalated to the concerned official @Drmmumbaicr”.
Advocate AS Pradhan, commenting on the video, voiced his concerns, urging Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to take immediate action to address the safety risks faced by Mumbaikars. He said, “This is a daily chorus of bonafide passengers and taxpayers. @AshwiniVaishnaw Railway Minister should take appropriate actions to save the lives and lifeline of MMR citizens.”
The video has sparked a wave of reactions, with commuters and activists calling for urgent reforms. One user pointed out that the overcrowding was not just limited to the platforms but also within train compartments, where people were pushing toward the gates, further exacerbating the danger. “Mumbai local must have automatic doors as so many lives are at risk,” another user wrote.
Others suggested that the person filming the incident could have also called for more cooperation among the crowd inside the train to prevent further congestion at the gates. “People don’t go inside the train and make crowd at gate, someone may lose their life. The person taking video has done a good job highlighting this, but he should have also told the crowd inside to give space,” user Sandy posted.
Mumbai’s local train network, often referred to as the lifeline of the city, has long been grappling with overcrowding issues, especially during peak hours. The problem worsens when delays, like the one that led to this incident, create chaotic situations on platforms. Despite efforts by railway authorities to improve the services, many commuters feel that more needs to be done to ensure their safety.
