Manhattan subway tragedy: Mystery surrounds why Indian-origin woman, friend were on tracks

Malaika Chitre and Navam Kaul, who grew up just miles apart in suburban New Jersey, were beginning their careers when they were killed at the Spring Street subway station in Lower Manhattan.

The circumstances surrounding their deaths remained unclear days later. Friends and neighbors described both as ambitious young people with their lives ahead of them and said being on the subway tracks was completely out of character.

“I was shocked. He was a financial analyst, doing everything right,” Kaul's next-door neighbor Sagid Qureshi told The Post.

“From what I understand she was doing well, too — good people doing so well, with their whole lives ahead of them. It’s just so sad.”

Haunting video shows pair sitting on tracks

The two were apparently on the tracks at around 3:15 a.m. Sunday, when a No. 4 train entered the Spring Street station.

Video circulating on social media appears to show the pair sitting calmly on the track bed shortly before the train arrived.

According to law-enforcement sources, cited by the New York Post, one of them either fell or climbed down onto the tracks, while the other apparently followed in an attempt to help.

The train operator told supervisors that Chitre appeared to be laughing as she pulled Kaul toward her while the two sat on the tracks.

The operator reportedly had no time to stop the train before it struck them.

Police investigate possible intoxication, suicide not ruled out

NYPD detectives were investigating whether one or both victims may have been so intoxicated that they failed to understand the danger until it was too late, according to sources.

Investigators were also looking into the possibility of suicide.

No suicide notes were found, although authorities had not ruled out that possibility, media reports said.

The medical examiner's office had not publicly provided a cause or manner of death.

Both were Rutgers graduates

Chitre and Kaul graduated from Rutgers University in 2024, according to their LinkedIn profiles.

They grew up in neighboring Central Jersey communities — Chitre in South Brunswick and Kaul in Sayreville — and reportedly became friends through their shared social circle and South Asian community.

Rajnikant Pipalia, whose son was a friend of Kaul, said the two grew up in similar environments and shared many friends.

“They’re all part of the same friends circle, the same South Asian group hanging out together, enjoying the same festivals,” Pipalia said.

Chitre was building career in pharmaceuticals

After graduating from Rutgers, Chitre worked as a quality operations specialist at Acadia Pharmaceuticals, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She was also studying to become a doctor of pharmacy at Temple University.

Her social media accounts showed photos from family gatherings, celebrations with her Bernese Mountain Dog and a trip to Europe in July that included visits to Florence and Rome.

A neighbor near her South Brunswick home remembered Chitre as a bright and energetic child.

“She used to play with the kids on the block — a bright, smart girl,” the neighbor said.

“I was shocked when I heard about this … It’s just so weird. I’m still not understanding: why on the track?”

Kaul worked as a financial data analyst

Kaul, whose parents are of Nepali descent, had worked as a financial data analyst at Bloomberg, according to his LinkedIn profile.

A source familiar with the company told The Post that Kaul had been a contract worker whose assignment ended in May.

Friends from Sayreville War Memorial High School remembered him as outgoing, funny and charismatic.

“Whenever he was around, it was really good energy,” one friend said.

“You’re just starting your life and then suddenly this happens … It’s just so shocking.”