Heavy overnight rains on Wednesday, July 21, led to flooding and washing out of some rail tracks in the Kasara Ghat near Mumbai, severely affecting long-distance and local train services.
According to railway officials, some long-distance trains were held up at various locations and special buses were being arranged for the stranded train passengers.
Which trains are cancelled?
CSMT-Hyderabad Special, CSMT-Latur Special, CSMT-Varanasi Superfast Special, CSMT-Bhubaneswar Special, CSMT-Gadag Special, CSMT-Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus (Kolhapur) Special are cancelled, CSMT-Hajur Saheb has been cancelled. In addition, some trains have been stopped halfway, while train routes have been diverted.
Moreover, Train operations from Titwala to Igatpuri (in Nashik district adjoining Thane) and from Ambernath to Lonavala in neighbouring Pune district were suspended after tracks were washed out, boulders crashed, and inundation and mudslides occurred at multiple locations.
Which of these trains were stuck near the Mumbai area?
2111 Kalyan Amravati Express (Down) stopped at Khardi station, now this train will return to Mumbai. Howrah Express stops at Asangaon railway station, while Siddheshwar Express stops at Badlapur.
The suburban train services of the Central Railway were being operated only up to Titwala and Ambernath stations in neighbouring Thane district from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai since Wednesday night, CR's chief spokesperson Shivaji Sutar said.
Around 10.15 pm on Wednesday, the Central Railway suspended the traffic between Titwala and Igatpuri rail section following heavy water-logging on tracks near Umbermali station close to Kasara, located about 120 km from here, and due to incidents of boulder crash at the Kasara Ghat, according to rail officials.
Later, at 12.20 am, the CR suspended traffic between Ambernath and Lonavala section as flooding took place near Vangani station, located about 90 km from Mumbai, and some boulders fall in the Khandala Ghat section, they said.
The CR spokesperson further stated that efforts are ongoing to restore train movement in both sections. He also stated that the Central Railway's general manager was continuously monitoring and guiding officers and staff for quick restoration from his camp office.
In addition, the Central Railway has set up help desks at Kalyan, Kasara, and Igatpuri stations for passengers.
What is the effect on local suburban services?
The CR's suburban services on the Harbour line, Trans-Harbour line and Belapur-Kharkopar line were running as per schedule, officials added. Local train services on the Western Railway route were also affected due to track changing point failure at Churchgate in south Mumbai early Thursday morning, a spokesperson said. The problem was rectified around 7.30 am and since then the services were running normal, the official added.