In April 2024, a 25-year-old promising student at IIT Patna, Avadhesh Rajesh Dubey, who was also pursuing an MBA degree, fell off a crowded Mumbai local train during rush hour on Central Railway. Trains have been extremely crowded during peak hours, and the Kalwa-to-Dombivli stretch beyond Thane has become one of the deadliest. Avadhesh’s family has alleged that door-blocking, train delays, and the lack of timely medical response during the golden hour contributed to his death.

Even as Avadhesh’s father, Rajesh Dubey, and his family continue to seek justice—urging authorities to implement stringent safety measures on Mumbai’s bustling local train network—little has changed on the ground, with the rush-hour battle continuing every single day.