Signal failures on Central Railway slow Mumbai locals at Thane-Mulund and Kanjurmarg-Bhandup

Central Railway local trains in Mumbai slowed to a crawl on Monday morning. Signal failures at two places affected trains in both directions, up and down, on both the fast and slow lines.

According to the Central Railway control room, the fault was reported at about 10.55 am on October 26. One signal problem occurred between Thane and Mulund stations. A second signal failure occurred between Kanjurmarg and Bhandup stations.

Trains were run at low speed while the signals were being repaired. The control room said repair work was under way at both places and railway staff were working to fix the faults.

A separate incident was also reported. Railway officials said on Saturday that a power bank exploded in a passenger's bag in the ladies' coach of a Mumbai local train, causing panic among the women seated in the compartment. No one was hurt.

The incident took place at about 12.30 pm on Friday on a local running from Dadar to Badlapur. According to a Central Railway spokesperson, a woman's bag caught fire before the train reached Ghatkopar station, and the cause is believed to be a power bank explosion. When the compartment filled with thick smoke, passengers pulled the alarm chain.

Alert passengers took the burning bag out and put out the fire by pouring water on it. Citing another statement, a railway official said the bag was thrown out at Ghatkopar station. The woman's belongings were burnt and ruined, but no one was injured.

For a safety check, the train was stopped at Ghatkopar station from 12.51 pm to 12.53 pm. Railway staff inspected the train, after which it left.

Earlier, on August 10, suburban rail services in Mumbai were also affected at several places by technical faults during the morning rush. Train movement was disrupted briefly during the morning hours.

According to officials, a fault developed at 4.46 am in PT 111/112 on the Diva down/up fast lines at Vasai Road. Railway staff of Dy SS/BSR then reached the spot and carried out point clamping, because of which up fast trains had to be held.