Mumbai: Ten trains moving between Pune and Mumbai vice versa were affected after heavy rains triggered a landslide at the Lonavala-Karjat ghat section, also called the Southeast ghat section, of the Central Railway in the midnight hours of Thursday.
According to rail officials, the landslide was reported between the Nagnath-Palasdhari section in the UP line (Pune to Mumbai) at around 12:50am.
“The location is located at the approach of tunnel number-26. An on duty patrolman identified as Motilal Lobhi detected the fallen boulder and immediately swung into action by stopping one banker locomotive engine which was at the same area and moving closer. After stopping the locomotive, he alerted all the officials about the incident,” a CR official said.
Officials added that work towards the restoration of the UP line started immediately and a relief train carrying equipment for restoration was sent. This is the first major landslide to have happened in the section this season.
“Since the UP line was blocked, trains had to be stopped. Trains coming from Pune had to be stopped near Lonavala and those coming from the Mumbai side had to be stopped near Karjat. The trains were then made to pass slowly via the middle line. The restoration work was completed at around 8.15am and the UP line has now been opened for the traffic,” the official said.
The boulders which had fallen were the size of one to two meters. “Due to availability of only two lines as against three lines, trains arriving in Mumbai from Pune side and also due to ghat blocking locomotive movements, few trains going towards Pune suffered detention between 30 minutes to an hour during restoration work period,” the rail official added.
List of trains that are delayed"
18519
12702
11140
11006
12116
17412
22144
11041
12115
22157
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