In an unforeseen turn of events, train services of Central Railways were thrown into disarray on Thursday afternoon following a pantograph mishap near Kalyan railway station. The incident, which occurred around 12:35 PM, resulted in the entanglement of an empty local train heading towards the stabling line.
The disruption had far-reaching consequences, leading to the cancellation of over 20 suburban services and delays affecting around 60 trains, including nearly a dozen long-distance ones. Apart from around 50 suburban services popular train such as the Dhule Express, Chennai express, Mangala Lakshadweep Express, Kakinada Port Express, Danapur Super Fast Special , Coimbatore -LTT express ,Chennai Central - Ahmedabad Humsafar Express, Pataliputra LTT Express and Patna -CSMT Suvidha express were among those experiencing delays of up to 50 minutes.
"While services on the slow corridor remained operational, the cascading effect of the disruption resulted in delays of up to 50 minutes for those traveling along this route" said an official.
Both commuters and railway authorities found themselves caught off guard by the incident, which severely impacted train movements on the up and down fast lines, as well as the fifth line. Passengers were left stranded or facing significant delays, highlighting the challenges faced in managing commuter railways, especially in the suburban section of CR.
"Despite the disruption, efforts were swiftly underway to restore normalcy to the affected routes. Railway personnel worked tirelessly to rectify the pantograph entanglement, with services gradually resuming by approximately 2:20 PM" said an official of CR.
While the incident caused momentary chaos, it serves as a stark reminder of the constant vigilance required to ensure the smooth operation of commuter rail networks.
"The incident underscores the need for resilience and preparedness in managing urban rail systems, with safety and efficiency remaining paramount priorities for all stakeholders involved" said Suresh Kambale a regular commuters of CR.
Similarly Sujata Singh of Dombivli , railway authorities need to more vigilant to avoid this type of incidence in future.
Mumbai Metro -1 services disrupted by technical snag during morning rush hour
The Mumbai Metro services on the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova corridor known as Blue Line were disrupted due to a technical snag on Thursday morning..
The incident occurred during the peak rush hour, causing significant inconvenience to daily commuters.
Reports flooded social media platforms with images and videos depicting long queues and overcrowding at multiple metro stations, notably Ghatkopar and Andheri. Commuters shared their frustration online, highlighting the challenges they faced in accessing the metro premises. Some even reported waiting in queues for nearly an hour before being able to board a train.
According to sources, the disruption occurred around 10 am, leading to delays in metro services towards Versova. Despite the initial chaos, authorities swiftly responded to the situation, implementing measures to manage the overcrowding and restore normalcy. Additional services were deployed to alleviate the inconvenience caused to commuters.
A spokesperson from Mumbai Metro One attributed the disruption to a 'technical glitch '
On social media, commuters voiced their concerns, with some expressing frustration over the lack of clarity regarding the situation. However, Mumbai Metro One reassured passengers that operations were being regularized, with services returning to normalcy and extra trains being deployed to mitigate delays.
One viral post from the Roads of Mumbai handle on 'X' captured the extent of the chaos, with queues reminiscent of pilgrimage sites. The post questioned the efficiency of security processes and called for measures to expedite passenger flow on platforms.
The Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova Mumbai Metro Line 1, which serves as a vital artery for the city's transportation network, witnesses a daily influx of more than three lakh commuters.
