Rooftop traveller throws Harbour off-track

Commuters on the Harbour line walk on the tracks as services towards CST were halted after an overhead wire snapped at Tilak Nagar on Monday morning —Rajesh Jadhav

The Harbour line saw no trains towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) for 52 minutes after a rooftop traveller hit and broke a pole that keeps the overhead wire in place at Tilak Nagar station. The incident, which occurred around 10.30 am, led to chaos amongst commuters as 30 trains were cancelled and 56 trains running five to 20 minutes. The unidentified man, who was travelling illegally on the rooftop ran away from the spot after he realised what had happened.

Central Railway (CR), divisional railway manager Amitabh Ohja said that he has asked the Railway Police Force (RPF) to conduct a two-week drive against rooftop travellers on the Harbour line. “It has been observed that the trend of rooftop travelling still exists on the Harbour line. Though we couldn’t catch the man who broke the pole today, we hope that through this drive those who indulge in this activity will stop,” said Mr Ohja.

The Harbour line had seen the derailment of two wheels near CST on September 14 and commuters have said that they are now sick and tired of issues paralysing the line.

Annapurni Hariharan (26), who was meeting clients for an assignment and wanted to travel from Vashi to Kurla said that her train stood still for an hour. “I crossed the Vashi bridge and reached Mankhurd at 10.50 am and the train just stood there for an hour. People began to get off and walk, but I waited. The heat and chaos is something familiar we experience frequently on the Harbour line, and I am tired of how the railways treats this line,” said Ms Hariharan.

Commuters such as Karyn Jacobs (29), a resident of Panvel, said that it is a well-known fact that Harbour line sees a lot of rooftop travelling.

“Why are officials waiting until an accident like this occurs for them to realise that Harbour has a lot of rooftop travellers Why is a drive being organised now Shouldn’t they have done this already ” asked Ms Jacobs.

The services resumed at 11.12 am and were running behind schedule till 2 pm.