In this episode of Editorial, Mr. Sujit Nair discusses the Mumbai local train tragedy, in which 4 people lost their lives and many others were injured. He delves into how little Indian lives are valued by examining the basic amenities provided by the government.
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[00:00:01] Namaskar, 13 people met with an accident in Mumbai trains. This happened in a place called Mumra, which is the suburbs of Mumbai. Now, 9 of them are injured, 4 of them killed. 2 out of 9 people are said to be seriously injured.
[00:00:27] Now, let's talk about that. And also let's talk about the value of Indian life. What is your life and my life actually valued in India? That is also something that we should discuss. So let's get into the show.
[00:00:51] Most of us Mumbai-kers, we are very nostalgic about our local trains. Very nostalgic. Because a lot of us remember our early lives, our younger days when we talk about local trains. The thing is, most of us, most of us, especially middle class, lower middle class and so on and so forth, most of us, we have travelled by trains to our destinations. Especially people like me in our younger days, we have travelled by trains.
[00:01:22] Now, each of us, most of us, we know what train travel means. And only we know what train travel means. For us, to explain it to others is a very difficult proposition. Because that is how unique train travel is in Mumbai. Because for us, 8-11 is a very important time. 8-11. Normally, not 8-10 or 8-15 like normally people say. But 8-11.
[00:01:51] Because 8-11 is that fast local to Chattrapati, Shivaji Terminus. So that's why that 8-11 becomes important. Or 12-6 becomes important. Because that's when you have the fast local to Kurla.
[00:02:07] So, these timings are very important to us. And the most important thing about our lives and trains is that, and I am talking about my younger days, is that when we venture into a train, especially during peak hours, you are almost fighting for your life. You are holding on to that footboard, fighting for your life, and something goes wrong. End of story.
[00:02:34] This, I am talking about 1990s. Like I said, when I used to travel in train regularly. You used to hang on to the footboard because you couldn't get in. Or, you would have to wait in the station for hours till you get a train. Not where you can get in and sit and on. No, no, no, no. Where you can somehow just squeeze in. If you wait for 2-1-1.5 hours in the station, then you may get that train.
[00:03:01] I don't see a difference between 90s and I don't see a difference in 2025. What I used to do, hanging on to the footboard, is what these kids did. Who died. 9 people were injured, 4 died, 13 fell. Because they were hanging on to the footboard. And, it was a turn where 2 trains went close by at 70 km per hour.
[00:03:29] And, because of the inertia, because of the, because of 2 trains crossing each other. The inertia caused people to slip and fall in tracks. The most unfortunate incident. 4 people died and 9 injured. Now, you know, just to give some figures.
[00:03:58] Mumbai trains alone, Mumbai local trains alone. We had 51,802 deaths. 22,481 were reported on Western Railway. And, 29,321 on the Central Railway. 51,802 deaths. That is Central Railway, Western Railway put together.
[00:04:22] This, I am talking about from 2005 to July 2024. I am talking about roughly around 20 years span. But, half a lakh of people just died in the train. And, according to some reports, there are 7 people who die on track daily. 7 people die on track daily. This is some other reports.
[00:04:52] Now, what is the government doing about it? What is the government doing about it? Is a big question mark. Now, I understand there are challenges. There are challenges which you cannot take it away. The city seems to swell every day. The city seems to grow in population every day. And, while we are trying to build good roads. While we are trying to build good metros. But, somewhere down the line.
[00:05:22] Our administration. Our political will. Could not redefine. Or define a way to ensure. That either we have more trains. Or we have more tracks. Or we have parallel tracks. We could not define a way. Where we could reduce. Our. Load on a train. We could not reduce that.
[00:05:50] Especially, I am talking about Mumbai locals. Mumbai local is a site. The whole world. Gets kind of. Surprised. To see the way. We guys travel. In our local trains. The whole world is surprised. Now, this is the lifeline of our city. This is what. Keeps Mumbai alive. This is what keeps people alive. In Mumbai. Because, this is possibly. The cheapest. And the most effective way. To travel in Mumbai.
[00:06:20] So, we travel. We travel. Possibly. Risking our lives. Every morning. We travel. Risking our lives. Every morning. We do that. Because, we have to earn. Two square meals. For ourselves. And our family. That's why we do it. I want to. Share. An incident that happened. In 1958. In India. 1958. And I want to quote. Mr. Atal B.R. Iwajpayee. 1958. He was addressing.
[00:06:49] Railway union. He said. And I quote. That things. Were so bad. That when one bought. A railway ticket. There was every chance. That one would. Have to bid farewell. To the Jag. That is world. And Jeevan. The railway minister. Then was Jag Jeevan Ram. So. That was the pun. On the name. The railway minister's name. Then. So he said. That there are chances. That one would have to bid farewell. To Jag. And Jeevan. Under the conditions. Of one ultimate travelled. With Ram.
[00:07:19] On his lips. So. Like I said. Punned on Jag Jeevan Ram. So he said. Jag Jeevan. You know. You never know. If you take a ticket. You never know. Whether you are going to come back. You are going to risk your life. 1958. Atal B.R. Vajpayee. The founder. Of Bharatiya Janata Party. 2025. Tell me the difference. Pray tell me the difference. Is there a difference? Can you say that things are different?
[00:07:49] Ask anybody who has travelled through local trains. Why local trains? Train in general. Look at the number of accidents. Look at the number of accidents. So what's different? Of course. Those days. There were good opposition. Who could question. The government like he did. Today. Maybe that is not. As good. As what it used to be. Except for that. What is the difference? And we are the third. Or fourth. Or fifth. Or whatever. Largest economy. We just happened to kind of.
[00:08:19] Go and take Japan's economy. And now we are. We are the fourth largest economy. In the world. 1956. And 2025. Situation same. 1956. God knows. We were what economy then. Today. We claim to be the fourth. Like I told you before. What. Is. What has. What difference it has made to us. And the most important things. I am going to talk to you. About basic amenities.
[00:08:48] What difference has it made. To our basic amenities. Is. I just spoke to you about. Railway. Railway. Railway. Which is not just the lifeline of Mumbai. But it is a lifeline of India. Because an average Indian. A middle class. Lower middle class Indian. Cannot afford to travel by. Airplane. They cannot. They have to travel by rail. Railway. And this is the condition. Of the rail. This is the condition of the rail. Now. Let me tell you. I just made a statement. I just made a statement. Where I said. What did the common man get.
[00:09:18] And I am going to stick to that statement. A little more. Let's talk about. Potholes. Since we are in Mumbai. Let's stick to Mumbai. Mumbai potholes. Claims another life. This is 13th of July. 2024. Virar teacher falls off the scooter. 20 year old biker. Dies after falling into a pothole. Mumbai Nashik highway. Toddler dies. After bike hits pothole. In Boiser. Maharashtra tragic incident. 24 year old woman dies. In pothole accident.
[00:09:48] In JNPT road. During monsoon rides. In Matheeran. Mumbai man. Fills 556 potholes. As his son. Died. In one of them. Mumbai. After two deaths. In two weeks. One more pothole mishap. Scooterist dislocates shoulder. You know. There was a claim. That BMC. Fills each pothole. At least eight times. A month. This is something. That a. Mumbai police. Constable said. You have. Poor quality roads built. You have.
[00:10:19] Poor contractors. Working on that. The. Contractors. Has to pay. Right up to the top. And. So what are you expecting him to make. So it is not that. It is one contractors fault. Or it is something that. You know. Change the contract. And everything will be. You know. It is the system. And the system. Takes money. The system is corrupt. Because. They couldn't care less. For that person. Or the people. Who are going to die in that pothole. Because that's what your life is worth. This is the system. Stampede. Karnataka. There are at least. 11 people.
[00:10:49] Who died in a stampede. During the. That cricket. IPL. Celebrations. Why? Because. Absolute lack. Of. Administration. Management of crowd. Array Baba. If you can't manage crowd. Don't let crowd gather. Say that. Bhai listen. We are not equipped enough. To manage this kind of crowd. You know. We are. We are not good administrators. Hamse nahi otai ye sab. We are very limited. Mediocre people.
[00:11:19] In as far as management is concerned. So don't gather. Don't enjoy. We are not equipped. We are not trained. To allow people to enjoy. Go sit at home. And enjoy yourself. Don't come together. Say nahi. At least. 11 people would have. Would have been alive today. The Karnataka government. Should say that. Baba. Listen. I am here. We are not. As far as. I am. Don't. In our governance. Don't come and collect. And enjoy. And all that. Osa. Mat karo. They should have said. Nahi otai amare se ya.
[00:11:50] 11 people died. Let me tell you. Makum. Makum. 30 people died. 30 people died. It is the same question. Nahi otai. Mat karo. Why allow people to die? You know why we allow people to die? You know why we allow people to die? We allow people to die because our lives have got.
[00:12:15] It's all put in terms of money in the minds of politicians. It's all about money. You know Mumbai local trains they have announced. The state government has announced 5 lakhs. Bangalore stampede they have announced 25 lakhs. Makum. They had announced 25 lakhs. But till now. Two months on kin of several Makum stampede victims. Still evade 25 lakhs relief. This is 26th of March 2025.
[00:12:44] 9th of June 2025. Kumbha Mela stampede. Allahabad slams UP government over lapsed delayed compensation. So the money comes or not is a different issue. But this is what the life is. So if there is an accident. If there is an administrative fault. 5 lakhs. Kumbai. 25 lakhs. Bangalore. 25 lakhs. Makum. Delhi railway station stampede. 10 lakhs per victim. Balasot train accident. 10 lakhs per victim.
[00:13:11] Bengal government gives 5 lakhs for their train accident. And center gives 2 lakhs. This is how they manage. This is what they think about your life. This is it. Somebody dies. Just pay 2 lakhs. 5 lakhs. Everybody offers. Everybody then comes in television. Shows their picture. Even may print a poster with their picture. And say we are offering 5 lakhs. Why? Because your administrative failure killed that person. That's the reality.
[00:13:42] And you know what's the irony? The irony is. Our people go with folded hands. And take the check. And be very happy. Showing that the government. The big leader. Gave us this 25 lakhs. Your kin died because of that leader. Your relative died because of that leader. Your son. Your daughter. Died because of that leader. And that is how he is paying you that money. That's the cost of your child's. Or your mother's. Or your parents. Or your brother's.
[00:14:11] Or your sister's life. That's the cost. The government has decided. And that is what they are paying you. We don't have the understanding. Or possibly even the maturity. I don't know. To question these leaders. Pull these leaders to court. I'll give you one more example. And that is hospital deaths. You know. I will just. I've done an entire series on this. On hospital deaths. Where rats have gouged out eyes.
[00:14:40] Dogs have been eating body parts. And so on and so forth. I've done an entire series. You can go through that. A hospital in Nandayad. NDTV reported. That pigs. Pigs roam free. This was 2023. 2023. And the high court slammed Maharashtra government. This hospital was in Nandayad. But. Let's not just talk about Maharashtra government. This is true to. Almost every government. I spoke to you about. Potholes. I spoke to you about. Railway trains. I spoke to you about hospitals.
[00:15:09] Now let me talk to you about schools. Again. I have done a full fledged. Editorial on this. So I'll attach all those editorials. I'll just. Request my production unit. To attach. All those editorials. Schools. Midday meals. You know. I'll just quote a report. Of October 18th. 2024. Dead lizards in utensils. 40 students hospitalized. After food poisoning. In Thane schools. Second incident in a month. I had spoken to you about schools in Bihar. I have spoken to you about schools. All over.
[00:15:40] Now we talk about Thane schools. This is October 18th. 2024 incident. But all the same. The point that I'm trying to make. Is. Our basic necessity. Our basic amenities. Are. Not just. Below average. They are. The pits. You tell me. What is the point. Of you say. Claiming. To be. The. Fourth largest economy. In the world. What exactly. Does it get us.
[00:16:10] What exactly. Does it get us. And what exactly. Is doing to you and me. Is it. Is it. All of this. To help. Just a few. Super rich. People. On the top. Who runs almost. All our lives. Is that. This is all of this meant for them. Is this. New India. Or growing India. Meant for them. Because the metros. That we see. And were built for us. That metros. Leak. The first. The very first year. Of their.
[00:16:40] After the inauguration. The very first monsoon. You have. Water flowing. Leak. Water flowing. Inside. The metro. This is. The. Infrastructure. Made for us. Our roads crack. In the first year. Of inauguration. These are the infrastructure. Made for us. So who exactly. Are we building this India for. The rich. The super rich. And the rest of us. Continue to live the same life. Is that. What it is.
[00:17:10] That's the question. I wanted to ask you tonight. Think about it. Write your comments. In the comment box below. And let me know your views. Till I see you next time. That's tomorrow at 10. Namaskar. I'll see you next time.