Mumbai: A coach of a local train on the Harbour Line derailed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) on Monday, in result suburban services on harbour line were badly affected . The incident, which occurred around 11:35 am as a Panvel-CSMT local train was entering platform number two, led to the cancellation of 52 local trains and the short termination of 26 others at Vadala.
While thankfully, no passengers were injured in the derailment, the disruption caused significant inconvenience to commuters. Harbour Line suburban services were suspended between CSMT and Vadala, leaving many stranded and scrambling for alternative transportation options. However some CSMT-bound local trains stranded between Vadala and CSMT were initially terminated at Masjid station, compounding the chaos for commuters.
The services were restored between CSMT- Vadala after around three and half hours at 3.06 pm, said and officer of CR adding that the first trolley of the affected coach was re-railed around 1.15 pm, and the damaged tracks were cleared around 1.55 pm.
According to a senior officer of the Central Railway, the second coach of the CSMT-bound train derailed while entering at platform number two of CSMT. An inquiry has been initiated to determine the cause of the derailment, although preliminary indications suggest a possible issue with the points .( meeting point of two rail know as point in railway, its generally used for track change)
The derailment brought Harbour Line services to a grinding halt, with several commuters reporting significant delays ranging from 30 to 45 minutes. Inside the trains, passengers endured stifling heat as they waited for updates, with some resorting to jumping onto the tracks out of desperation.
"The heat was unbearable inside the coach, and many passengers jumped out on the track," recounted a Kharghar resident who was stuck between GTB and Wadala stations for 45 minutes.
Another commuter from Tilaknagar lamented a 40-minute halt due to the derailment, highlighting the widespread impact on the daily routines of Mumbai's residents.
The aftermath of the incident saw Vadala inundated with stranded passengers, leading to long queues at bus stops as commuters sought alternative routes. Taxi drivers, seizing the opportunity, exploited the situation by charging exorbitant fares of Rs 100 per seat from Vadala to JJ Circle. With buses running at full capacity and taxi operators refusing to operate on meter, commuters faced additional challenges amid the sweltering summer heat.
However Central Railway said that Harbour Line passengers were allowed to travel via Kurla through Main Line on same ticket and pass. Apart from that special local services were being operated up Vadala on Harbour during the disruption.
