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On November 6, Thane railway station witnessed absolute chaos as thousands of commuters tried to board local trains that were running late. As evening rush intensified, platforms overflowed with commuters who struggled to move as everyone tried to board the local trains. The crowding was a result of a protest staged by Central Railway employees at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) after two railway engineers were booked in connection with the June 9 Mumbra train accident. As train services were disrupted for nearly an hour, local train movement came to a standstill that left office-goers stranded. Packed Thane Railway Station A video recorded from Thane station captured the intensity of the rush. The visuals showed passengers running even before the arriving train came to a halt. Some even jumped onto the tracks in a hurry to reach the train faster while many pushed through the crowd to step onto the train. The platform was completely jammed and at one point, it seemed a stampede could occur. Thankfully, even with all the chaos and panic, no major injuries were reported. Thane railway station scene on 6th November, as motormen go on strike. byu/Omarr_Paper inmumbai ‘Cattle, Not Commuters’: Social Media Users Express Outrage As video of Thane railway station spread across social media, users shared their anger and frustration. One user commented, “Maut aajaye but Thane se local na pakadna pade (I’d rather die than have to catch a train from Thane).” Another remarked, “If there is so much public transport then the government should add new trains or extra train coaches, the condition of people going to work is bad.” “Cattle. We are literally treated like animals who are on their way to get butchered,” someone else added. Others reacted by expressing gratitude for not living in big cities. “I’m happy in my small town with less earning,” one person said. A person added, “Much grateful for not living in these hell-like situations and to be born in a peaceful small town!!” “Seriously consider yourself blessed if your job travel doesn’t involve local trains,” a viewer wrote. “Road ke side Maggi bech lunga but aise naukri to bilkul nahi karunga (I’d rather sell Maggi by the roadside than do a job that needs such travel),” read another comment. How The Protest Disrupted Mumbai’s Lifeline According to Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, the protest began around 5:50 PM on November 6. A group of railway employees reportedly stopped motormen and train managers from operating services which led to a complete halt in local train operations for about an hour. Why Were Employees Protesting? The protest was triggered after a police case was registered against two Central Railway engineers over the June 9 Mumbra accident. The incident had occurred between Diva and Mumbra stations when two overcrowded trains (one heading to Kasara and the other towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) were crossing each other at a sharp curve. Some commuters travelling on the footboard fell onto the tracks after their backpacks brushed against each other. This led to the death of four and injuries to nine others. Following a probe, the Thane Government Railway Police booked a senior section engineer and a section engineer under sections 125(a)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita which pertains to acts endangering life or personal safety of others. The employees’ union opposed the move as they argued that the engineers were being unfairly targeted. The agitation was later called off after senior Central Railway officials met the protestors and assured them that the matter would be discussed with state authorities.
