Deadly Consequences of Railway Strike
A flash strike by railway unions at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) turned fatal on Thursday evening, resulting in two deaths and three serious injuries when passengers walking on railway tracks were hit by an Ambarnath-bound fast train near Sandhurst Road station.
The tragic incident occurred around 6:50 pm on November 7, 2025, as confused commuters, stranded for nearly an hour due to the unexpected protest, began disembarking stalled trains and walking along the tracks towards their destinations.
Victims' Harrowing Stories
Suryakant Naik, 68, a retired bank manager, was among those who lost their lives. According to his son-in-law Rahul Soni, Naik was traveling to catch the Nagpur Duronto Express at 7:55 pm from CSMT after attending Tulsi Vivah at Iskcon temple on Mira Road. "It was not his fault, he died because of the mismanagement of the railways whose employees resorted to a strike without any prior intimation to the commuters," Soni lamented.
Hailey Momaya, 19, a first-year BA student at Somaiya College, also died in the same accident. Her father Priyesh Momaya expressed anger at the lack of support from authorities. "There should be an FIR against the protesters. Till now, there has been no help from the railways, neither medical nor any compensation. I lost my daughter," he said.
Hailey's paternal aunt Khushbu sustained fractures to her hand and was initially treated at Nair Hospital before being shifted to Wockhardt Hospital at Mumbai Central.
Survivors Recount Near-Fatal Experience
Among the injured were 62-year-old Yafiza Chougule and her 22-year-old son Kaif, both currently recuperating at Balaji Hospital in Byculla. Kaif described the terrifying moments: "After waiting in the stalled train for nearly 50 minutes, we decided to walk as it was hardly 200 metres from the railway station. My mother had undergone hip replacement surgery and couldn't stand or sit for long."
"I dragged my mother out of the track but we were hit by the train. She fell in the nallah and suffered severe head injuries requiring 25 stitches. I was thrown a few metres away and suffered severe back injuries," Kaif added from his hospital bed.
Yafiza remains unconscious in the ICU, while Kaif has been advised an MRI for his back and shoulder fractures.
Protest Background and Aftermath
The flash strike was launched in protest against the Government Railway Police (GRP) registering an FIR on November 1 against two Central Railway engineers and senior officials for alleged negligence that led to a fatal accident in Mumbra in June where five persons died.
Railway unions, including the Central Railway Mazdoor Union (CRMS) and National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR), had described the FIR as "unfair action" by GRP. The protest began around 5:30 pm when CRMS members locked the motormen's waiting room at CSMT, preventing train operations.
Senior inspector Shambhaji Katare of CSMT GRP confirmed that the protesters locked the motormen's room from outside between 5:40 pm to 6:30 pm, creating chaos across Central Railway stations and triggering overcrowding at CSMT, Byculla and Sandhurst Road.
Services resumed at 6:30 pm, but the damage had already been done. The GRP has registered a case of accidental death and is investigating the incident.
Families of all victims expressed frustration that neither railway officials nor government representatives have offered free treatment or compensation following the tragic incident that claimed two lives and left three fighting for recovery.
