THANE: At least five passengers died and several others were injured after falling from an overcrowded local train between Diva and Mumbra stations in Thane district on Monday.The incident occurred around 9.30 am when two trains, travelling in opposite directions, crossed each other. According to officials, passengers standing on the footboards of both the up and down trains collided during the crossing. “Several passengers lost their balance due to the jolt and fell off,” said Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway.The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, where five were declared dead on arrival.An investigation is currently underway to determine the exact sequence of events and to identify the trains involved.In response to the accident, the Railway Board has decided that only air-conditioned local trains with automatic door closure systems will be procured for the Mumbai suburban network moving forward. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai has also been instructed to examine the feasibility of retrofitting existing non-AC locals with automatic doors to improve commuter safety.
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