Mumbai Local Trains Claim Over 29,000 Lives In 11 Years; GRP Data Reveals Alarming Track Fatalities

More than 29,000 people have lost their lives on railway tracks in the Mumbai Suburban section over the past 11 years, from 2014 to 2024, according to data received through a Right to Information (RTI) query. Alarmingly, 8,416 of these victims remain unidentified.

The data, provided by the Government Railway Police (GRP), reflects the grim reality of Mumbai’s overburdened suburban railway system and highlights the human cost of its daily operations. Out of 29,048 deaths, the majority occurred due to the illegal crossing of tracks—over 15,000 people died while trying to cross the tracks, while around 6,500 lost their lives after falling from overcrowded running trains.

In cases where a body is discovered on railway premises, especially after accidents involving trains, the GRP is solely responsible for handling all related procedures—from collecting the body, taking photographs, arranging shrouds, transporting it to the hospital for a post-mortem, to performing the cremation after fulfilling all legal requirements.

“Crossing of railway tracks continues to be the leading cause of fatalities,” a GRP official said. “The impact of a train hit often leaves the victim’s body severely disfigured, making identification difficult. We rely on items like ID cards or cellphones. In some cases, a tattoo, jewellery, or even a tailor’s tag on clothing helps us trace the family."

Once an autopsy is completed, the bodies of unidentified victims are kept in the mortuary for a period ranging from weeks to three months. During this time, the GRP circulates photos and victim details across police stations and cross-checks them with missing persons complaints. DNA samples are preserved, and all belongings are catalogued. If no relatives come forward, the police obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the hospital and proceed with the cremation as per legal protocol.

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Though the death toll remains disturbing, officials note a slight decline in recent years. “This is due to a number of steps taken by railway authorities,” said a GRP official. “Construction of foot overbridges, installation of escalators and lifts, awareness campaigns, and increasing the number of trains have helped, but not enough.”

Officials stressed the need for stricter safety infrastructure. “People are still forced to travel in dangerously overcrowded trains during rush hours. The only way to reduce track deaths is to ensure complete fencing of railway lines and to implement an automatic door-closing system on all local trains. Without these, zero deaths on tracks will remain a distant dream.”

The figures obtained through RTI, submitted by Dr. Sarosh Mehta, paint a stark picture of the urgent need for structural and behavioural changes in the Mumbai suburban railway system—a network that serves millions daily but continues to claim hundreds of lives each year.