The Bombay High Court on Friday expressed deep concern over the rising number of fatalities on Mumbai’s suburban railway network, calling the situation "alarming"—a remark that came in the wake of five recent deaths caused by overcrowding on a local train.

A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne made the observation while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on the safety of commuters on Mumbai’s lifeline—the suburban train network.

The bench suggested the installation of automatic door-closing mechanisms on local trains to prevent such tragedies. However, it clarified that the idea came from a "layman's" perspective and emphasized the need for expert input from railway safety authorities.

Referring to an affidavit submitted by the Railways, the Court noted that 3,588 fatalities were reported on the suburban network in 2024 alone—an average of ten deaths every day. “This is an alarming situation,” the bench observed, while acknowledging the Railways’ claim of a 49% reduction in casualties compared to previous years.

The Court particularly highlighted the tragic June 9 incident near Mumbra station in Thane district, where five passengers died and eight were injured after falling off an overcrowded train. It said the measures currently in place were inadequate to prevent such occurrences.

The Railways informed the Court that a multi-disciplinary committee has been constituted to investigate the Mumbra incident and is expected to submit its findings along with recommendations to prevent future tragedies. The Court directed the Railways to place these suggestions on record, along with a timeline for implementation, and asked that the committee consider suggestions made by the petitioner, a daily commuter.

Additionally, the Railways said a separate high-level monitoring committee is working on a “zero death mission,” and several steps have already been initiated based on its recommendations. These include the construction of walls and fences between tracks to prevent crossing, and the relocation of stalls on platforms to reduce crowding.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on July 14.