Sixty-eight people died after falling off overcrowded trains under the Thane railway police’s jurisdiction between January and December 2024. This jurisdiction covers Thane, Kalwa, Mumbra, Diva and Airoli—one of the busiest stretches of Central Railway. During rush hour, these stations, especially those beyond Thane, become so packed that even standing on the platform is a challenge, let alone boarding a train. While most stations have slow and fast halts with multiple options, Kalwa remains overcrowded due to its proximity to Thane and the fact that trains arrive packed from both directions.

Forty-year-old Siddhesh Desai, a research scientist from Gholai in Kalwa, has a daily struggle—not with work, but with his commute. Catching a Mumbai-bound local from Kalwa station in the morning is nearly impossible, so he has devised multiple ways to reach the office on time. These include hiring a regular auto driver, travelling in the opposite direction to board a less crowded train, or getting down at Thane to catch an empty local. The Kalwa-Mumbra-Diva stretch is infamous for being one of the deadliest railway corridors.