Mumbai: After the heavy downpour on Monday, followed by a complete suspension of Central Railway (CR) services for 16 hours on Tuesday, the CR's decision to operate services according to its Sunday schedule proved to be disastrous.
This was in evidence on Wednesday, where until 11 am, services ran as per the Sunday timetable (there were 30 per cent fewer services), causing immense distress to commuters.
There was chaos at Thane, Diva and Dombivli railway stations. This further caused crowding on railway platforms and foot overbridges.
To avert disaster, CR hastily amended its decision. By 11 am, it began operating special Dombivli locals to clear the rush. Six other special trains were run on the Main line and two on the Harbour line.
An hour later, the CR authorities said they had cancelled the Sunday schedule and "were running suburban services normally, said a CR official. Commuters fumed at the CR decision to operate on the Sunday schedule on working days.
“Today’s situation was practically a stampede-like situation. Commuters were afraid as they were waiting on the platforms,” said M Kotian, a Mulund resident and president of the Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh.
Another commuter said similar situations prevailed at other railway stations like Diva and Thane, as people struggled to board the train.
On July 2, after 32 trains of CR were marooned on waterlogged tracks, rakes had to be sent to the Kalwa, Kurla and Sanpada carsheds for drying and maintenance. CR operates 1,774 train services daily, with a total of 121 rakes.
