25-year-old woman from Andheri loses balance in crowded train, falls to death

A 25-year-old woman employed with a private bank died on Thursday after slipping off the footboard of a train and falling into a gutter near Goregaon station.

A 25-year-old woman employed with a private bank died on Thursday after slipping off the footboard of a train and falling into a gutter near Goregaon station.

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The incident took place around 9.30am when Seema Varang, a resident of Andheri, was on her way to work at the Malad branch of the ICICI bank.

“The train was overcrowded and Varang was standing on the footboard. Near Goregaon station, the woman lost her balance and fell into the gutter between the tracks,” a GRP official from Goregaon GRP chowkie said.

Fellow commuters informed the stationmaster who in turn informed GRP officials. Varang had sustained grievous head injuries and was bleeding profusely. She was taken to Cooper Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

As the woman fell into the gutter, the case was registered with the Goregaon police station as the GRP claimed the spot came under the jurisdiction of the local police station.

Prakash Jadhav, police sub inspector of Goregaon police station, said, “We will be transferring the case to the GRP as the incident took place in their jurisdiction.”

Train commuters feel the city’s railway network is unable to cope with its burgeoning population. The number of commuters losing their lives after falling off crowded trains has been increasing over the years.

“City trains are becoming a dangerous mode of transport during peak hours. Firstly, it is a task to board a train if you are getting in from any other station other than the starting point,” said Raghini Shah, a Borivli resident who commutes by train every day.

“Secondly, alighting from the trains is also near impossible. People have to stand on the footboard, as they do not have any place or option,” said Shah.