Mumbai rains: Suburban train services resume partially

Suburban train services resumed late Sunday evening after a 11-hour break due to heavy rains in Mumbai and adjoining Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts, officials said.

Central Railway services folded up in the morning due to water-logging on the tracks in Sion and Kurla. Its Harbour service, which connects the metropolis to neighbouring Navi Mumbai, was also shut for most part of the day due to waterlogging at Chembur station.

The transharbour line between Thane and Vashi, and Western Railway's network between Churchgate and Virar-Dahanu plied normally though with delays of 10-15 minutes.

"CSMT/Thane/Kalyan services resume from 19.49 hrs", Central Railway said in a tweet.

Harbour line services also started between CSMT and Wadala, and Mankhurd and Panvel in the evening, an CR official said.

A boulder fall in the Apta-Jite section of CR stalled outstation trains to and from Mumbai, leading to bunching of several long-distance trains in stations en route.

CR, in a statement, said a major incident was averted in the Jite boulder fall due to alertness of the patrolman, driver and assistant driver of the Rajdhani Express which was in the vicinity.

"Rajdhani Express at Jite... Patrolman and driver, Asst Driver did commendable job of stopping train well in time and averting a mishap.... Section cleared now and Rajdhani Express left from spot...".

Rains washed away ballast beneath the tracks between Vangani and Neral on CR's mainline, stalling trains in the process.

In a statement late Sunday night, CR said depending on weather conditions on Monday, it would run services from CSMT to Kalyan, Goregaon and Panvel, as well as Thane-Panvel and 4th corridor to Kharkopar.

Services from Kalyan to Badlapur and Kasara will be decided on Monday morning, the CR statement added.

Services beyond Badlapur will not be possible on Monday due to large scale damage to tracks despite repairs being undertaken on war-footing, CR said.