Mumbai: 3 die after falling off trains

Mumbai (CNST), Apr.19: Mumbai's two-day-old local train crisis on the arterial Central line has claimed three lives. Hanging on precariously to an over-crowded train, two men hit a signal pole on the side of the tracks, fell off the train and died in suburban Mulund. There were reports of other accidents due to overcrowding of trains - four people fell off a train atGhatkopar; three people fell at Vikhroli. One of the injured succumbed to his injuries in a hospital later. Overcrowded trains is an everyday phenomenon in Mumbai, where the local train network is a lifeline, but matters have been far worse since yesterday, when a fire at signaling cabins in Kurla and Vidyavihar stations caused damage to equipment leadingto big delays as fewer trains ran on the Central line. In the absence of electronic signals, flags are being used to keep trains running. There was much chaos all through the day on Wednesday, especially at peak office hours in the morning and evening, but things looked far more organised as fewerpeople than usual seemed toturn up at stations early this morning. As the day wore on, however, the crowds swelled and soon the trains running on the Central line, 15% less trains than usual, were frighteningly overcrowded. -Ndtv.com