12-year-old cricketer stranded 90 minutes between Ghatkopar and Vikhroli in Central Railway disruption

On Monday, 12-year-old Aditya Yadav set out for cricket coaching, but the journey turned into an innings he was not ready for. Aditya, who lives in Wadala and studies in Class 6, remained stuck in a train between Ghatkopar and Vikhroli for more than an hour and a half.

Aditya had to reach the Cricket Mantraa Academy in Nahur West, where his session runs from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm. As the train stood still, he could not tell whether he would get there on time.

Aditya told Mid-Day that he did not know whether he would reach the ground by 5 or 5.30 pm. "I have heard that Central Railway runs late, but usually it is only a 15-minute delay. Today it is more than one to two hours late. I will not be able to reach the academy even by 5.30 pm," he said.

Many passengers were anxious, but the Class 6 student stood at the train door, teasing people walking on the tracks below. "You get a journey like this only once a year," he said. He appeared to be enjoying the unplanned adventure.

Aditya has trained at the academy for the past four years and regularly makes the long journey there from Wadala. Asked who his role model was, he paused.

He asked in return, "What is a role model?" He then settled on the word "inspiration" and said, "Of course, the god of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar."

For many other passengers, however, the delay was no laughing matter. Several got off the stalled trains and began walking along the tracks. Trains were still running on nearby lines, which put their lives at risk.

Passengers also complained that they were given very little information about the cause of the disruption or how long they would remain stranded.