Heavy downpour in city turned Nagpur Railway Station into a mini canal as there was water and water everywhere as far as one could see. Though the tracks within station remain submerged, it however did not affect the operations of train. Division officials said there was no delay in schedule departure of trains due to water accumulation at the station. But for the travellers it was a big risk as the approach to station building, from the popular Western end and also from the Santra Market side was an impossible task.

 

A huge water pond got created right at the entrance on Western side. In fact, right from Tekdi Ganesh temple end the road was under few feets of water. Similarly, water remained stagnant during the rain in the circulating area near porch on Western end. No one could move inside or outside during the morning hours where the rains were continuing to pound the city. The lobby of Running Staff on platform no. 1 was also inundated and railway administration put pumps to flush out the water. Also the under ground parking on Western end was filled to brim indicating that it would pose problem everytime it rains. On Santra Market side also, the situation was no different as choked drains and water gushing out from chambers made the task herculean for would be daredevils. The streets were water logged and the dividers only acted as barriers in blocking the flow of rain water.

 

Due to ongoing construction with restrictions on entry on Santra Market side, the challenges for citizens were multiple. Adding to problem was closure of platform 7 which is shutdown for facilitating the construction of elevated concourse. Travellers bracing the rains had to haul their luggage to somehow reach platform no. 6 in time so as not to miss the train. The problem with Nagpur Railway Station is that it is located on downward slope. Adding to trouble is Shakti nullah that criss crosses the yard and if it rains heavily then water discharge from it does not happens very fast creating flood like situation. Any how with such excess rainfall, the drains were bound to malfunction. Beside the inherent problem of uneven flow inside the drains, many of which choked to capacity, provided no respite to citizens from monsoon troubles.

 

Punctuality goes for a toss as train schedule derailed Trains running to and fro Howrah faced inordinate delay due to rains and other factors leaving travellers flustered. 12261/12262 CSMT-Howrah-CSMT were the worst hit as they reached Nagpur station about 12.20 hrs and 3 hours behind their scheduled time. Thereafter, 03680 Dhanbad Special was also behind schedule by 11 hours. Another popular train on circuit, Azad Hind Express going to Pune Train no. 12130 was late by 2.30 hrs, besides that Train no. 12834 Howrah-Ahemdabad was running late by 3.30 hrs. Another train 05293 Cherapalli Special was late by 4.50 hrs, 18030 Shalimar Express was behind schedule by 7 hours, 12810 Mumbai Mail about 3 hours late while Train No. 22906 Okha Weekly Superfast was late by 4 hours.