Indian-origin woman, friend killed after NYC subway train hits them on tracks, video of incident surfaces

At around 3:15 am on a recent morning in New York City, a tragic accident unfolded at the Spring Street subway station in Lower Manhattan. Indian-origin woman Malaika Chitre, 24, and her friend Navam Kaul, also 24, were struck and killed by a southbound No. 4 subway train while standing on the tracks. The incident came to light after a bystander captured the harrowing moment on video, which showed the pair seated on the tracks just before the train arrived.

The nature of how Chitre and Kaul ended up on the tracks is under investigation by police. According to initial reports, one of the women may have fallen or climbed onto the tracks, with the other following after her. The train operator informed supervisors that she observed the pair on the tracks and attempted to engage the emergency brake, but the train could not be halted in time.

Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Around 100 passengers were evacuated from the train that had struck the pair. The NYPD is still trying to determine the reasons behind the two individuals' presence on the tracks. While law enforcement sources suggest intoxication might have been a factor, other possibilities, such as suicide, are also being explored, although no suicide notes have been found.

Chitre worked as an operations specialist at Acadia Pharmaceuticals, while Kaul was a financial data analyst at Bloomberg. Both had studied at Rutgers University. Kaul's friends described him as outgoing, funny, and well-liked, while Chitre was remembered as a bright, intelligent woman who enjoyed spending time with children in her New Jersey neighborhood.

Friends and acquaintances are struggling to comprehend how the incident occurred, especially given the close-knit South Asian social circle Kaul was part of. The NYPD's investigation into the circumstances leading up to the fatal collision continues.