Two Indian-origin students were killed after being struck by a subway in New York. The victims, who have been identified as Navam Kaul and Malaika Chitre, were struck by a train in Manhattan on Sunday and were identified as former students of Rutgers University.
As per local reports by The New York Post and New York Daily , the duo was struck by a Number 4 train at Canal Street Station in lower Manhattan. AmNewYork reported that the operator activated the emergency brake but could not stop the train in time.
What happened to Indian-origin woman, friend who were killed on NYC subway tracks Two Indian-origin Rutgers graduates killed on NYC subway tracks; police examine cause (Navam Kaul (L), Malaika Chitre (R) ) Earlier reporting noted: An incident report obtained by the New York Daily News said the train operator told supervisors that she saw the man and woman sitting on the tracks as the train approached. A video of the incident went viral, which showed the two students sitting on subway tracks as the train approached.
Earlier reporting noted: Suicide, intoxication or accident? Earlier reporting noted: Video circulating on social media also appeared to show the pair sitting together on the tracks shortly before the train arrived.
Approximately 100 passengers were aboard at the time of the incident. On an average, 223 people were struck by trains annually over the past five years, according to MTA data. In 2025, 228 people were injured either in train strikes or from falling between cars, 89 of whom died.
Citing police sources, the New York Post reported that investigators are looking into whether either Kaul or Chitre was impaired by drugs or alcohol.
suicide has not been ruled out at the moment According to a Metropolitan Transportation Authority report on the incident, it remains unclear whether the man or woman fell onto the tracks While no note has been found. The train operator told officials that she saw a “man and a woman sitting on the track,” adding that the woman was laughing and pulling the man towards her when the train came into contact. It also remains unclear if emergency brakes were used to stop the train before it struck the duo. Officials have also searched for a suicide note to understand why the duo was on the tracks. Despite this uncertainty, the report indicates the second victim had gotten onto the tracks to help the other up. They were evacuated onto the platform after the collision.
