Maharashtra: Man falls from moving train after thief snatches mobile, leg amputated; critical

THANE: A routine journey home from work—one he had undertaken countless nights —turned tragic for a 30-year-old Badlapur resident last Sunday. Standing near the door of a moving train, he lost his balance and fell on the tracks after a thief snatched his phone and jumped out near Ambernath station. His left leg came under the wheels of the train, which led to amputation near the knee. He suffered other multiple serious injuries, including one to the head. His condition remains critical.

Kalyan GRP tracked down the robber, Kailash Balkrishna Jadhav (27), based on CCTV footage and arrested him from his Ambernath residence within hours. Charges of attempted to murder and robbery, among others, have been invoked against him. He suffered minor injuries after jumping out of the train.


GRP officials said Ritesh Rakesh Yerunkar boarded the first luggage compartment of a Badlapur-bound local at Thane station after completing his shift at a store in a mall around 11pm on Sunday—as he did every workday. He stood near the door, pulled out his phone and began scrolling through it to unwind.

The train reached Ambernath station around 11.45pm. Right as it began to pull out of the station, Jadhav jumped in, snatched Yerunkar's phone, and leapt out within seconds as soon as the train began to pick up pace. Officials said a stunned Yerunkar attempted to stop him but lost his balance and fell on the tracks.

Railway police personnel at Ambernath station rushed to his aid and shifted him to Ulhasnagar Central Hospital for emergency treatment. Owing to the seriousness of his injuries, he was later referred to KEM Hospital in Parel, where he is still admitted to the surgical emergency ward. Among his injuries are a deep wound on the left cheek and significant swelling around one eye. Police said that Yerunkar's wife and parents were at the hospital, but didn't disclose any more information about the family.

Pandarinath Kande, senior police inspector, Kalyan GRP, said the preliminary investigation has revealed that Jadhav had been involved in a similar mobile phone theft case as a minor.