Maharashtra Pradesh Congress President Harshavardhan Sapkal on Monday termed the Mumbra railway tragedy, in which four passengers died after falling from a local train, as extremely “unfortunate” and “heart-wrenching”.
“The very fact that people are forced to travel by clinging to overcrowded trains just to get to work is a tragic reflection of the system. This is not a railway accident—it is a human sacrifice taken by the BJP government. There must be an investigation into the incident, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw should be held accountable and should be removed from the cabinet,” demanded Sapkal.
Speaking on the railway tragedy, the state Congress president said that for the past eleven years, the people of Maharashtra and Mumbai have been hearing empty promises about better infrastructure and improved travel for Mumbaikars.
Also read
- OPINION | Mumbaikars’ long wait for dignified commuting
- Mumbra train tragedy: All Mumbai Suburban trains to have automatic door closure
- At least 5 feared dead, several injured as passengers fall off crowded Mumbai local train
- 'I shouted after seeing the train, nobody listened': Passenger narrates harrowing details of Jalgaon accident that claimed 13 lives
“Under the guise of development and improved facilities, tenders are being awarded and commissions are being taken. The nexus between the ruling party, officials, and contractors has grown fat with corruption, but it's the common citizens who are paying the price—with their lives. The government must wake up now, stop its event-centric governance, and take immediate steps to ensure Mumbaikars don’t lose their lives while commuting in local trains,” he said.
In the Mumbai region, local trains are truly the lifeline. Nearly 7.5 million people travel daily by local trains, but the commute is extremely strenuous and dangerous. Families constantly worry whether their loved ones will return home safely. Due to the heavy crowding in trains, accidents occur daily—someone either dies or is permanently disabled.
“Despite repeated discussions and meetings on easing overcrowding and improving travel conditions, the situation remains unchanged. Whenever an accident happens, there's an immediate announcement about installing automatic doors on locals, but no real action follows. The railway administration is callous, like a sluggish python,” said Sapkal.
Elected representatives from all parties have consistently raised concerns about local train issues, but the railway administration and government remain in a deep slumber.
“The BJP government is focused on completing the bullet train project, but what Mumbaikars need is a reliable and safe local train service—not a bullet train. Yet the railway administration and government continue to play with the lives of ordinary Mumbaikars. This game must stop now,” said Harshavardhan Sapkal.
