Two senior engineers from Central Railway have sought anticipatory bail from the Bombay High Court after being named in an FIR related to the tragic Mumbra train accident on June 9, 2025, which resulted in five fatalities and nine injuries. The petitioners, Assistant Divisional Engineer Vishal Suresh Dolas and Senior Section Engineer Samar Bahadur Yadav, are contesting allegations of negligence associated with track maintenance and operational safety.
The accident occurred at approximately 9 a.m. near Mumbra station when two fast local trains-CSMT–Karjat (S-11) and Kasara–CSMT (N-10)—crossed paths. Eyewitness accounts revealed that overcrowding and unsafe practices, like traveling on footboards, contributed to the disaster, as numerous passengers fell onto the tracks. An initial investigation suggested that technical issues were also at play, with a report from the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) highlighting problems in track geometry, unwelded joints, and discrepancies in cant.
The FIR, filed on November 1 under sections 105, 125(a), 125(b), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, accuses railway officials of neglecting safety protocols and failing to address issues caused by heavy rains prior to the accident. Investigators indicated that incomplete welding and limited track clearance heightened risks during high-speed crossings.
In their request for bail, the engineers assert that the VJTI’s findings are based on assumptions and are not conclusive. They argue that an internal committee of senior railway officers found no lapses in track management or train operations. Their petition emphasizes a crucial point: prior to the June 9 incident, 53 trains had successfully traversed the same tracks without incident. Following the accident, an additional 226 trains ran on that segment at the same speeds without any problems. The engineers claim, “On the day of the incident, 37 trains crossed at the same site without further rectification, undermining allegations of maintenance neglect.”
The engineers, both seasoned professionals with 24 years of experience and necessary qualifications in Railway Engineering Technology, maintain that they have cooperated fully with the investigation. They describe the need for custodial interrogation as unwarranted, referencing the significant delay in the FIR, which was filed almost five months after the incident. They highlight that police inquiries had only involved correspondence from June to October 2025 without any significant action.
Previously, a bail plea submitted by the engineers was denied by a Thane sessions court on November 13. The High Court is expected to hear their case later this week, as the engineers fight to clear their names amidst serious allegations concerning railway safety.
As the situation develops, scrutiny around operational safety and maintenance protocols in the railway sector remains a pressing concern for authorities and the public alike. The tragic incident at Mumbra has reignited discussions about the responsibilities of railway officials in ensuring passenger safety against the backdrop of increasing volume and speed of train operations.
Mumbai, November 21, 2025 — 05:15 am IST.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/railway-engineers-seek-anticipatory-bail-in-mumbra-train-accident-case/article70303915.ece
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Publish Date: 2025-11-21 05:15:00
