Technical glitch disrupts Mumbai train service on central line, protest turns violent
Irate protesters block train line at Diva station and allegedly resort to stone pelting.
Protesters allegedly pelt stones and police lathicharge at Diva station after Mumbai’s central line interrupted. (Source: Express photo by Vasant Prabhu)
A broken pantograph on the main line of Central Railway on Friday morning triggered a massive protest by irate commuters, leading to a riot-like situation with policemen and motormen being injured and police vehicles vandalised.
As many as 134 services were cancelled during the chaos that lasted four hours, including the morning peak traffic hours, before the situation was brought under control by the Railway Police, the Railway Protection Force and the Thane Police working together.
While the protests and vandalism, mainly at Diva station about 35 km from Mumbai, are believed to have been incited by miscreants in the crowd, Central Railway commuters had a harrowing day with normal services being restored only a little after noon.
According to the Central Railway administration, the pantograph of the Badlapur-Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) slow train broke when the train was between Thakurli and Dombivali railway stations, around 6:50 am on Friday. As a result, power from the Over Head Equipment (OHE) was switched off between 6:50 am and 7:26 am, and up and down slow locals had to be diverted to the fast track between Kalyan and Diva from 7:25 am onwards.
Very unfortunate for commuters to suffer on Central Rail. Directed GM to sort out the grievances ASAP. Diva to CST feasibility studied now
— Suresh Prabhu (मोदी का परिवार) (@sureshpprabhu) January 2, 2015
Even as repair work was under way, commuters at Diva station, furious at the frequent incidents of services being suspended on the Central Railway due to equipment failure, staged an impromptu agitation by jumping off the platforms and sitting on the railway tracks. The protest had a domino effect on train services, which were delayed during the critical morning rush hours between 7.30 and 10 am.
Discussed the matter with Minister Suresh Prabhu. We will look into the reasons of disruption &work on corrective course for future.
— Devendra Fadnavis (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 2, 2015
Another commuter Jayesh Kanade said, “I had to go for my HSC prelimnary exams in Ghatkopar. But the delay in trains was so long that I missed my paper. I had to return back to Dombivali.”
Here are a few select tweets on MUMBAI LOCAL disruption:
Just In Straight from Diva
Angry commuters burn police van and stone pelting on EMU@smart_mumbaikar @TrafflineMUM pic.twitter.com/tDQRkutTIJ— RailMumbai (@RailMumbai) January 2, 2015
@TrafflineMUM Major problem at central railways A Motorman injured after Stone pelting on train at Diva and mubra pic.twitter.com/XrEs4VnORY
— Ashita Dadheech Sharma (@AshitaD) January 2, 2015
Some more pix #mumbaiLocal @TrafflineMUM @Narendra_IRTS pic.twitter.com/Km62Ix6e9H
— /आम्ही डोंबिवलीकर 💕 KDMC (@AmhiDombivlikar) January 2, 2015
#Mumbailocal railway service disrupted from last 4 hours
Angry passengers started stone pelting, one motorman injured— Shreenivas Bikkad (@shreebikkad) January 2, 2015
#MumbaiLocal Needs major restructuring Everyday rail services gtting disturbed due 2 technical issues @sureshpprabhu pic.twitter.com/AmqxwwaWwR
— Max Maharashtra (@MaxMaharashtra) January 2, 2015
CST to Thane bound train was super crowded and Thane to Vashi train is empty. Weirdness continues in #MumbaiLocal today.
— Moith (@Spamsterr) January 2, 2015
Stuck between kalwa and mumbra. Train halted. Not moving at all. #centralrailway #mumbailocal @wearenavimumbai @WeAreMumbai @WeThane
— Surendra.Shete. (@surenshete) January 2, 2015
Indicators are blank at Thane Railway station, special local trains are on display at platform no 4 towards CST #mumbailocal
— Govind Sharma (@hopegovind) January 2, 2015
https://twitter.com/maheshbsharma/status/550849847218417665
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