Fire disrupts Western Railway services

Mumbai: Western Railway (WR) outstation services were badly affected after a fire broke out in two goods wagons on midnight of Thursday between Dahanu Road and Vangaon railway stations, melting the overhead wire (OHE) and disrupting suburban services between Virar and Dahanu Road.

Outstation, as well as the suburban services’ passengers, had to face hardship on the day of Bhai-Dooj as seven trains were diverted, while ten trains were cancelled. In addition to this, 13 trains were short terminated and four trains were rescheduled.

The Western Railway has ordered a departmental inquiry into the fire. Western Railway general manager A.K. Gupta himself monitored the situation.

Sources said that as the fire broke out in the 22nd and 23rd wagons of the goods train, which were carrying plastic granules from Vadodara to JNPT in Raigad district. Owing to the heat and fire, the OHE melted completely, and its restoration was completed by Friday morning. Personnel of the fire department, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) immediately rushed to the spot. The fire was doused at 1.35 am. During this period, at least 10 long-distance trains had to be stopped.

The fire brigade from Dahanu Road was called immediately, but could not reach the site due to a muddy area nearby. An accident relief train (ART) was ordered from Valsad at 11.12 pm. A diesel loco departed from Valsad and another diesel loco departed from Virar for the site. As a result, all up and down long-distance trains were held up. Restoration works were carried out in full swing and the up line was fully restored at 8.50 am on Friday while the down line was given a fitness certificate at 1.35 am on Thursday.

Dinesh Yadav, who has come from Uttar Pradesh to clear documentation work for his brother in Boisar, said, “I had to go to Thane to hand over the papers to my advocate on Friday. But when I reached Boisar station, there was an announcement that the 2.38 pm Dadar-bound local train from Boisar had been cancelled and I was forced to wait unnecessarily for one more hour for the next train, which was scheduled to depart at 3.43 pm for Virar.”