Two drones crash at Churchgate station during Wankhede display; commuter injured

Mumbai, Oct 30 : A drone display organised by a telecom company at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium ended in an accident after two drones reportedly lost control and crashed inside Churchgate Railway Station, injuring a commuter, railway officials said on Friday.

The incident occurred on October 28 at around 8.10 pm on Platform No. 3, when one of the drones reportedly crashed near the Virar end of the platform and struck a 37-year-old commuter, identified as Hemant Mahotsavkar.

The impact left him bleeding from injuries to his head and forehead. Railway staff and security personnel immediately rushed to his assistance and provided first aid at the station. An ambulance was subsequently arranged to shift him to GT Hospital for further treatment.

Following the incident, the Station Master issued a medical assistance memo to the Government Railway Police (GRP), facilitating the injured passenger's treatment and further legal procedures.

The GRP took possession of both drones and launched an investigation into the incident. A case has been registered against unidentified persons.

Investigators are examining how the drones, reportedly deployed for the aerial presentation at Wankhede Stadium, lost control and entered the railway station premises. The probe will also look into their flight path, possible technical malfunctions and whether prescribed safety precautions were followed during the operation.

The investigating agency is also working to identify the individuals and organisation responsible for operating the drones and establish how the devices travelled beyond the designated display area.

The incident has raised concerns over safety arrangements for drone-based public displays, particularly when such operations take place near crowded public spaces and busy transport infrastructure.

Further details are awaited as the GRP investigation progresses.