India, June 25 -- A mere 0.75-metre gap between commuters hanging by the footboard on two suburban trains running in opposite directions at 75 kmph-a relative speed of 150kmph-and the track curvature that caused the trains to oscillate sideways led to eight commuters falling on the railway tracks in Mumbra on June 9, of which five died. These are the preliminary findings of a five-member inquiry committee set up by Central Railway (CR) to investigate the incident, according to officials.

The entire incident, which occurred in a matter of seconds, is likely to have been sparked by a commuter on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Karjat fast local falling off the footboard, the reason for which is still unknown, officials adde...