India, Sept. 15 -- An Indian-origin woman and her friend died after they were struck by a subway train while they were on the tracks at a station in Lower Manhattan, New York, media reports said.

The victims were identified as 24-year-old Navam Kaul and 24-year-old Malaika Chitre.

Kaul reportedly fell or made his way onto the tracks at the Spring Street subway station early Sunday, prompting Chitre to descend onto the tracks to help him, law-enforcement sources told the New York Post.

Chitre appeared to try to pull Kaul towards her before the pair were struck by an approaching No. 4 train at around 3:15 a.m., according to the sources.

The train operator reportedly told supervisors that Chitre appeared to be laughing as she attempted t...