Two drones from Wankhede show fall on Churchgate platform, commuter injured

A 37-year-old commuter was hurt at Churchgate railway station in south Mumbai on Wednesday, October 28, when two drones that had been flying at a show near Wankhede Stadium lost control and came down on Platform 3.

The mishap occurred at about 8.10 pm. The drones were part of a display staged at the stadium for a promotional event. According to one account, the show marked the Jio Platforms IPO and was organised by BotLab Dynamics. Using coordinated formations, it presented Jio's journey, the Reliance Group's vision and the future of digital India.

Hemant Prakash Mahotsavkar was waiting near the Virar end of the platform, where passengers board Virar-bound trains. One drone fell directly on his head and forehead. He began bleeding heavily, and eyewitnesses said he was drenched in blood. Other passengers were alarmed, and for a while nobody at the station understood what had happened. The full picture became clear only after the railway police arrived.

ASI Shankarlal Meena, Head Constable Gaurav Parmar and Akash Gaikwad of the Maharashtra Security Force reached the spot. Railway security personnel helped the injured man, and a doctor from a 108 ambulance gave him primary treatment on the platform.

According to the railway police, Mahotsavkar initially said he wanted to go home and even gave a written statement. About 15 minutes later he said he needed more treatment. He was then taken by ambulance to GT Hospital, at around 9.11 pm according to one account, under the supervision of the railway police.

The Government Railway Police at Churchgate took both drones into custody. A case has been registered against unknown persons. A preliminary inquiry has found that both drones belonged to the show, and they may have reached the station because of a loss of control or a technical fault.

Police are now trying to establish how the drones travelled from the stadium area straight to the railway platform, what the real cause was, and who was operating them. They will also look into whether anyone was negligent or whether safety norms were violated.