Two 24-year-old friends were killed by an oncoming subway train in Manhattan on Sunday after being seen laughing and holding each other on the tracks, according to reports. The incident occurred at the Spring Street station, where the train operator's emergency brake failed to stop in time.
Fatal Moments at Spring Street Station
Malaika Chitre and Navam Kaul, both 24, were struck and killed by a Number 4 train in Manhattan. Shocking video, too graphic to show, appears to capture Ms Chitre trying to get her close friend Mr Kaul to his feet on the tracks. The train operator told her supervisors that 'the woman was laughing and pulling the male towards her when the train came into contact,' according to a report.
The New York Post reported that investigators are examining whether the pair were intoxicated and unaware of the danger. No suicide notes were found, but the possibility has not been ruled out, sources said.
Friends and Family in Shock
Navam's friend Rajnikant Pipalia expressed disbelief: 'There's nothing in his life that would make him do anything stupid.' He added, 'They (Kaul and Chitre) grew up in the same world. They're all part of the same friends circle, the same South Asian group hanging out together, enjoying the same festivals.'
Both had graduated at the same time from Rutgers University. Mr Kaul was starting his career as a financial data analyst for Bloomberg, while Ms Chitre worked for Acadia Pharmaceuticals, according to their LinkedIn profiles.
Investigation and Support Resources
The incident has left New Yorkers horrified, as onlookers could only watch the tragedy unfold. The train operator attempted to use the emergency brake, but it failed to stop the train in time, resulting in the deaths of both individuals.
For those affected by this tragedy, Samaritans are available to listen, day or night, 365 days a year. They can be called for free on 116 123, emailed at jo@samaritans.org, or visited at samaritans.org for more information.
