Storm Delays Local Trains In Mumbai

Stampede-like situation in the trains?

On Monday, a stampede-like situation erupted at the Thane Railway Station after local train services were delayed due to a storm.

Hundreds of women were seen entering a train compartment that hardly had any space, prompting charges of railway mismanagement on social media platforms.

A fierce storm crippled all forms of traffic and railway movement in Mumbai and its suburbs yesterday. A massive billboard collapsed and killed 14 people at a petrol pump during the storm.

The local train services were suspended around 4:15 pm for over two hours after an overhead pole got bent due to strong winds between Thane and Mulund stations, said a Central Railway official.

Slow and delayed train services resumed on the main corridor around 6:45 pm.

In a precautionary move, the suburban services were suspended for 10-15 minutes at various locations on both the main and harbor lines, leading to further disruption of services during peak evening rush hours.

The delays and disruptions led to overcrowding at several stations. In some cases, passengers were even forced to walk on the tracks after their trains came to a standstill. Some commuters claimed the trains took longer than usual to reach their destinations.

Western Railway chief spokesperson Sumit Thakur told news agency PTI that the suburban services were running nearly 15-20 minutes late after the storm.

There was a signal failure near Charni Road Station too.

On the Metro Line 7, which connects Aarey Colony with Andheri East Station in Mumbai, services were suspended after a banner landed on the overhead wire during the storm, said a spokesperson.

The storm and unseasonal rain uprooted trees and led to heavy traffic jams across the city.