Who Will Bring Back My Daughter?” Mother’s Grief After Mumbai Train Tragedy Sparks Anger Over Strike and Chaos

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Mumbai: A mother’s anguished cry reverberates through Mumbai after a tragic train accident claimed the life of her daughter, 19-year-old Heli Mohmaya, at Sandhurst Road station on the Central Railway line. The incident also claimed the life of 45-year-old Suryakant Naik, while three others sustained injuries. Heli’s mother questioned, “Who is responsible for my daughter’s death — the police, the protesters, or the railway? How many more lives must be lost before accountability is ensured?”

The Tragic Sequence

The tragedy occurred around 7:15 PM when passengers waiting at Sandhurst Road station were caught in confusion after a sudden strike by Central Railway employees. Services to CSMT were halted, forcing passengers to disembark and attempt to reach their destinations on foot. Amid the chaos, an Ambernath-bound fast local train struck a group of passengers, killing Heli and Suryakant instantly.

Heli, a first-year BA student at Somaiya College, was heading to South Mumbai with her relative Khushboo when the accident occurred. Her father, Priyesh Mohmaya, works in the stock market in Matunga. Two other injured passengers, 62-year-old Yafiza Chougule and her 22-year-old son Kaif, were shifted to a private hospital for treatment.

Chaos Fueled by Strike

The strike was reportedly in protest against FIRs filed against two railway engineers for alleged negligence in a June accident in Mumbra, which killed five people. Demonstrators demanded the FIRs be withdrawn, bringing services at multiple Central Railway stations, including CSMT, Byculla, and Sandhurst Road, to a halt.

According to eyewitnesses and police reports, Heli and others attempted to walk on the tracks to avoid the crush in crowded coaches, when the fast local train struck them. The sudden resumption of services coincided tragically with their movement on the tracks.

Family Grief and Demands for Justice

At JJ Hospital, Heli’s mother expressed her heartbreak, saying she had called her daughter earlier in the day feeling uneasy, but never imagined losing her. She demanded action against the protesters and accountability for the railway and police:

“I lost my daughter today. Tomorrow, someone else will lose theirs. How many more families must endure this before things change?”

Local MLA Amin Patel visited JJ Hospital to meet the victims’ families and assured support while urging authorities to examine measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

This accident has highlighted the deadly consequences of strikes during peak hours, exposing the vulnerability of commuters and raising urgent questions about safety protocols, crowd management, and accountability in Mumbai’s suburban railway system.