Mumbai rains: Heavy rainfall maroons Vasai-Virar, NDRF called in for rescue operations

The NDRF was called in after the Ahmedabad-bound Shatabdi Express and the Vadodara Express, stalled some distance from Nallasopara station. “While we terminated other trains at platforms, it was difficult to move these trains as the water level on the tracks was too high,” said a railway official.

NDRF personnel rescue stranded passengers from Vadodara Express at Nallasopara. (Express photo)

Passengers aboard the stalled trains waited anxiously for four to eight hours before being rescued and Western Railway suspended services between Virar and Nallasopara stations early Tuesday, bringing matters to a head for the 3.5 lakh daily commuters of the region.

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According to the railway, water levels on the tracks at Nallasopara station reached 200 mm by 8 am, making the movement of trains difficult. On the Mumbai suburban section, services are suspended when the water level crosses 150 mm, to make sure water does not enter train engines. While services continued between Churchgate and Bhayander stations, services north-ward from Nallasopara were suspended till late evening.

Ahead of the monsoon, officials of the Western Railway’s Mumbai suburban division were confident that services would not stop despite heavy rains. On Tuesday, Divisional Railway Manager Sanjay Mishra said, “Nallasopara was never the vulnerable spot to get flooded in the monsoons. It is not just the tracks but the entire area that is waterlogged. A large amount of water from the roads has flown onto the tracks, adding to water levels.”

With water levels not receding until late evening, senior officials said it would be difficult to forecast when services would resume.

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“Till 11 am, not even an additional bus service was arranged for us. Without trains, we couldn’t go anywhere. I lost a day’s earnings for no fault of mine,” said Sakhid Shaikh, a labourer at a construction site in Dadar and Virar resident.

According to the railway, water levels on the tracks at Nallasopara station reached 200 mm by 8 am, making the movement of trains difficult. (Express photo)

By Tuesday evening, water levels on the tracks rose to 600 mm, the highest ever at Nallasopara station. Five water pumps were being used to pump water from the tracks. A team of 33 NDRF men and Railway Protection Force (RPF) staffers assisted in relief efforts, providing food packets to worried and tired passengers.

Shruti Jha, who was on the Vadodara Express, said there was no food until 3 pm. “More than four hours of being stranded in the train, we felt suffocated. The fans went off too,” she said.

Water levels at Nallasopara station crossed the 150 mm mark on Monday too, but train services had resumed by evening. Western Railway General Manager A K Gupta met Municipal Commissioner Satish Lokhande of the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation on Monday evening to discuss ways to resolve the water logging on the railway tracks along these stations.

Railway officials said arrangements were made to provide food packets and water to passengers of several long distance trains stranded beyond Virar. “Help from local NGOs was sought in providing food and water. In all, 16,300 food packets were arranged for passengers on 23 trains held up at different stations. Also, all catering stalls at stations were asked to keep food items stocked,” said Ravinder Bhakar, chief spokesperson for WR.

At least 37 railway employees who made it to Nallasopara railway station on Monday night could not return home and nearly 24 hours later, were still at the station. Chief Booking Supervisor S Tripathi said the staff helped passengers who were stuck in trains with refunds.

“For those of us who reside far away, we had no choice but to stay back at the station. The rains also lead to poor network, so we could neither watch television nor communicate with our families,” he said.