India, Sept. 29 -- Three months after the horrific June 9 accident near Mumbra, where eight passengers fell from moving trains and five lost their lives, an official inquiry has ruled out track geometry or coach clearance as the cause. Instead, the investigation, carried out by a five-member team of Central Railway (CR) has directly blamed a protruding commuter's bag that brushed against another train, triggering a deadly chain reaction.

According to the report, the mishap occurred between Mumbra and Diva stations when two suburban trains-CSMT-bound N-10 and Karjat-bound S-11-were crossing each other at speeds of 72 kmph. A commuter travelling on the footboard of the Karjat-bound train was carrying a 30-cm-thick black bag that extended o...