New details have emerged following the deaths of Malaika Chitre and Navam Kaul, who were killed after being struck by a subway train in New York City earlier this week.
According to a report by the New York Post, which cited sources familiar with the investigation, the longtime friends were seen embracing and kissing on the subway platform shortly before the incident.
The report said Kaul apparently lost his balance and fell onto the tracks. Chitre then reportedly went down onto the tracks after seeing him in distress.
Investigators are continuing to examine what happened in the moments before the train arrived.
What Happened to Malaika Chitre and Navam Kaul?
The New York Post, citing sources, reported that Kaul appeared to lose his balance on the platform before falling onto the subway tracks and striking his head.
Chitre reportedly climbed down after seeing Kaul in difficulty.
According to the report, purported CCTV footage also showed the pair sitting on the tracks shortly before the train arrived. Witness accounts and the reported footage are being considered as part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The newspaper further reported that the train operator did not have sufficient time to stop the train before it reached the pair.
Sources cited by the New York Post also said investigators do not currently believe the incident was a case of a double suicide.
The exact circumstances leading to the tragedy remain under investigation.
Who Were Malaika Chitre and Navam Kaul?
Chitre and Kaul were longtime friends who grew up in neighbouring communities in Central New Jersey, according to the New York Post.
Their professional and educational backgrounds also overlapped in some ways. Their LinkedIn profiles reportedly show that both attended Rutgers University and graduated around two years ago.
Rajnikant Pipalia, described in the report as the father of one of Kaul’s childhood friends, said Chitre and Kaul had grown up in “the same world” and belonged to the same South Asian social circle.
Malaika Chitre Was Studying Pharmacy
Chitre had built a career in the pharmaceutical sector while continuing her education.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she had been working as a quality operations specialist at Acadia Pharmaceuticals for around a year. She was also studying to become a doctor of pharmacy at Temple University, according to the report.
Her combination of professional work and higher education reflected an early-career trajectory in the pharmaceutical field.
Navam Kaul Worked at Bloomberg
Kaul was working as a financial data analyst at Bloomberg in New York City, according to his LinkedIn profile and the New York Post report.
The newspaper reported that he had been associated with the company for nearly a year. A source described as being from within Bloomberg told the publication that Kaul had worked there as a contract employee and that his employment ended in May.
Investigation Into the Subway Deaths Continues
The latest details have added context to the moments leading up to the tragedy, but authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The reported CCTV footage, witness accounts and information about the train’s movements are expected to form part of that investigation.
While the New York Post has reported that investigators do not believe the deaths were a double suicide, the precise sequence of events that led Chitre and Kaul onto the tracks remains subject to investigation.
The deaths have left friends and members of their wider South Asian community mourning two young people whose lives had been closely connected through their Central New Jersey upbringing and shared social circles.
