Train traffic on Mumbai-Howrah route affected due to rains
| Date :05-Aug-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
Mumbaibound Duranto Exp, Sewagram Exp terminated midway
Train operations on Howrah-Mumbai-Howrah route were thrown in disarray on Sunday due to blocking of Kalyan-Kasara section in aftermath of heavy rains that triggered landslides. Commuters faced severe trouble as trains would not move ahead of Igatpuri and they were left to fend for themselves by the railway administration. Nearly a dozen trains leaving Mumbai were delayed or cancelled as only middle and Up line was working other lines were out of order due to presence of mud on tracks. Heavy rains are lashing the Mumbai metropolis that cast its shadow on movement of trains. Mumbai bound Duranto Express was controlled and terminated at Igatpuri leaving passenger in lurch.
The travellers were never informed that train would not move ahead and only in evening the things became clear. Some of the travellers claimed that Station Manager had told them that Duranto would move ahead and provided stop at all local stations. Till evening there was no clarification from administration and travellers remained confined to Duranto at Igatpuri.
Finally as railway officials stated that Duranto will return to Nagpur the travellers created ruckus at Igatpuri railway station. The Station Manager was caught in bind as he himself did not had clear information about opening of section ahead. Finally towards evening a private bus was arranged by railway administration and travellers were told they would be carried till Kalyan. Similarly, Mumbai bound 12139 Nagpur-CSTM Sewagram Express was short terminated at Nasik station owing to bad weather.
The train started back to Nagpur while 11401 CSTM-Nagpur Nandigram was cancelled owing to lack of path. With no let up in train and to avoid piling and putting travellers at risk Central Railway cancelled several long distance trains including those on Howrah route including 12105 CSTM-Gondia Vidarbha Express, 12289 CSTM-Nagpur Duranto Express, 12809 CSTM-Howrah Mail, 12145 LTT-Bhubaneshwar Express, 18029 LTT-Shalimar Express, 12859 CSTM-Howrah Geetanjali Express, 12869 CSTM-Howrah Weekly and 12811 LTT-HTE cancelled.