THANE: A 35-year-old catering firm employee lost her left limb after she slipped off the footboard of a crowded local on to the tracks near Diva station on Thursday morning. The near fatal incident has once again highlighted the need for more services on the suburban network beyond Thane, which has seen similar accidents in recent past.The tragedy took place around 7:50am when the Kasara-CST fast local started from platform number four at Diva. The woman , identified as Lata Naidu, is a Diva resident who works as a caterer in Mumbai. Police said she boarded the packed women’s coach and lost her grip due to pressure from inside the coach. She fell on the tracks near the level-crossing after Diva in the path of the same train whose wheels ran over her left leg, severing it below the knee.Fellow passengers pulled the chain to halt the train. Alerted, station officials rushed her to a local hospital from where her relatives shifted her to another facility in Dombivli. The woman was later shifted to a Mumbai hospital for further treatment. Commuters from Diva complained that they often travel in dangerous conditions as there is very little room to board fast trains, as passengers who travel from Kalyan, Karjat and Kasara often occupy space near doors to alight at Thane. “When we try to enter, there is great pressure from inside the coach from those who want to alight at Thane, which is the next station,” said one.Activists say it is high time the administration starts heeding demands of areas beyond Thane that await dedicated local services originating from here. Commuters say authorities must probe the incident and find if the woman was pushed by train bullies. It may be recalled that last year doors of several trains halting at Diva were shut from inside by commuters, reportedly to prevent others from boarding.

Stay updated with all the Latest Thane headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.