Another train derailment... and no casualty
mumbai — Five coaches of KurlaAmbernath suburban train derailed on Thursday between Kalyan and Vitthalwadi stations in neighbouring Thane district in the western state of Maharashtra, disrupting services on the busy Central Line and causing hardships to large number of daily commuters during the morning rush hours.
No injury or casualty was reported in the mishap that took place around 5.53am when five coaches of the train skidded-off from the track, thus forcing the Central Railway to suspend suburban services between Kalyan and Ambernath stations and divert some long distance trains.
“Immediately after getting information about the derailment, our team of engineers and other staff rushed to the spot to restore the services. Services in the Up direction (from Karjat side to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai) was re-railed at 9.23am,” CR spokesman A.K. Singh said. At around 12.20pm, all the five derailed coaches were put back on the tracks, he said.
CR general manager D.K. Sharma rushed to the mishap site and and instructed officials to expedite the restoration operations so as to handle the evening peak hour rush. The services between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Kalyan were on while shuttle services were operated between Ambernath and Karjat. However, due to disruption of the services, many commuters faced difficulties in reaching their work places and they had to travel in over-crowded trains. Some people who board the trains daily from the stations which got affected due to the derailment could not reach their offices.
Expressing regret over the incident, Sharma told reporters here that, “Restoration work is in full progress and we hope to restore both Up and Down lines before the evening peak hour rush.”
Meanwhile, long distance trains like CST-Pune Deccan Queen and CST-Pune Intercity Express were cancelled for the day while 19 other long distance trains were diverted via Thane-Diva-Panvel-Karjat route, a CR release said.