Tragic Subway Incident Claims Lives of Two Young Friends in New York

A heartbreaking incident unfolded in New York when two young friends, Malaika Chitre and Navam Kaul, tragically lost their lives in a subway accident. Chitre heroically attempted to save Kaul after he fell onto the tracks, but both were struck by an oncoming train. The event, captured on video, has drawn attention to the dangers of subway systems. As investigations continue, the families of the victims express their grief and frustration over sensational media coverage. Chitre was pursuing a doctorate while Kaul worked as a data analyst, both having graduated from Rutgers University in 2024. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with urban transit.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 15, 2026, 11:47 IST

Heartbreaking Subway Accident in Manhattan

File images of the victims (Malaika Chitre and Navam Kaul) who lost their lives after being struck by a subway train at a Manhattan station (Photo: X)

New York, Sep 15: In a tragic incident, an Indian-origin woman made a brave attempt to save her friend who had fallen onto the subway tracks, but unfortunately, both lost their lives when a train could not halt in time, as reported by authorities.

The heartbreaking event, captured on video, occurred early Sunday morning at a Manhattan metro station while the two friends were waiting for their train.

According to police, Navam Kaul fell onto the tracks, prompting Malaika Chitre to jump in an attempt to rescue him.

On Monday, law enforcement officials stated that the New York Police Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The train operator informed supervisors that upon noticing the individuals on the tracks, there was insufficient time to stop the train, as reported by a local news outlet.

Both Kaul and Chitre were originally from neighboring towns in New Jersey and had graduated from Rutgers University in 2024.

Rajnikant Pipalia, a family friend of Kaul, mentioned that Kaul's family had immigrated from Nepal.

Pipalia described how Kaul and Chitre shared a close bond, having grown up in the same community and celebrated similar cultural festivals.

Chitre's family expressed their frustration with media coverage of the incident, criticizing reports that speculated on the details without factual support.

Chitre was pursuing a doctorate in pharmacy at Temple University while also working as a quality operations specialist at Acadia Pharmaceuticals, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Kaul, who held a business degree, was employed as a data analyst at Bloomberg, a financial services and news organization, as noted on his LinkedIn profile.