Mumbai: A major accident was averted on Thursday after an iron rod which was dangling over the railway tracks  from a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) pipeline bridge located adjacent to the Gokhale road over bridge was removed after being spotted by a labourer. The Western Railway (WR) had immediately blocked power and cancelled/delayed all trains for around 10 minutes and removed it. In the meantime passengers walked on the tracks.

14 local services were cancelled, 50 services were delayed. The services were disrupted for over 50 minutes. Incidentally, on July 3, the Gokhale ROB’s pathway had crashed, which led to a death and injuries to four persons.  

According to a senior officer of WR, the rod was spotted by a labour who was working at Gokhale bridge. “After the information was received by the Mumbai division of WR, a team was sent to inspect the pipeline carrying bridge and later it was removed as it might have fallen on a train leading to mishap.

He added, “We decided to stop the services immediately and a power block was taken for ten minute to remove the iron rod.”

In afternoon, the DRM WR Mumbai central tweeted, “Due to technical problem, all trains between Andheri and Vileparle stations are delayed by 10 to 15 minutes.”

According to WR spokesperson, “As a precautionary measure, the trains movement was suspended. UP fast trains were diverted on slow corridor from Goregaon and down fast trains were diverted on slow corridor from Santacruz. Two UP fast trains were held on the tracks during this period.”  

As the trains were still on the tracks, the passengers were forced to get down and started walking towards the station.

A passenger of slow train captured a video clip of passengers walking on the tracks. Later the video was sent to Media personnel.

A passenger Rakesh Pandey said, “As the train was stranded midway on the fast line, I was forced to walk on the tracks as I had to reach Andheri station.”