Questions over why train was allowed beyond Kalyan to flooded Badlapur
Central Railway Asked To Investigate Matter, Say Konkan Division Officials
Pradeep Gupta@timesgroup.com
Badlapur:28.07.2019
Officials of the state government’s Konkan division have raised questions why the Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express was allowed to move beyond Kalyan on Friday night when the Badlapur station was already waterlogged following heavy rain. A senior of the Konkan division has said they have asked the Central Railway to find out how the train was allowed to leave Kalyan station.
The train with 1,050 people was stuck in flooded tracks near Chamtoli village between Badlapur and Vangani railway stations around 10.15pm. A senior official from Konkan Division who was monitoring rescue operation told TOI, “Through our top officials we have asked the Central Railway to probe how the train was allowed to go to Badlapur.” The official added, “As per our information, whenever Badlapur station is waterlogged, all trains are stopped between Kalyan and Karjat at safe places.”
CR’s divisional railway manager SK Jain said, “There was no lapse as one EMU local had just passed the spot five minutes before the Mahalaxmi Express got stuck because of sudden rise in the water level.”
Many of the passengers had their first sip of tea or snacks in nearly15 hours after they reached the main road where the district administration had arranged for stay and food at a banquet hall. After the water level reduced in the afternoon, the rescue teams tied a third route to help passengers walk to a nearby road.
Though CR claimed it provided biscuits and water to passengers, many of them complained they did not get anything on train and had to spend the night without food and water as the train did not have a pantry. Vaibhav Phahake, a rescued passenger, told TOI, “My family told me on phone that CR said it sent biscuits and water but we did not get anything on train.” Another passenger, Taruna Bhandari, said the same thing. “We had to share our food and water among us and we got nothing from the railways. The local villagers provided us with snacks and tea.”
However, another passenger, Parsha More, said, “One team that came inside the train provided us some snacks but we did not get water. We had to stay without water for over 15 hours.”
Jagatsingh Girase, special development officer of Ulhasnagar division, said: “After rescuing the people, we arranged for private and civic buses to take them to Kalyan.” An official said the CR arranged a special train from Badlapur to CSMT at 6.30pm for those who wanted to return to Mumbai.
MASSIVE EXERCISE: Passengers being rescued from the marooned Mahalaxmi Express in Badlapur on Saturday
Central Railway Asked To Investigate Matter, Say Konkan Division Officials
Pradeep Gupta@timesgroup.com
Badlapur:28.07.2019
Officials of the state government’s Konkan division have raised questions why the Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express was allowed to move beyond Kalyan on Friday night when the Badlapur station was already waterlogged following heavy rain. A senior of the Konkan division has said they have asked the Central Railway to find out how the train was allowed to leave Kalyan station.
The train with 1,050 people was stuck in flooded tracks near Chamtoli village between Badlapur and Vangani railway stations around 10.15pm. A senior official from Konkan Division who was monitoring rescue operation told TOI, “Through our top officials we have asked the Central Railway to probe how the train was allowed to go to Badlapur.” The official added, “As per our information, whenever Badlapur station is waterlogged, all trains are stopped between Kalyan and Karjat at safe places.”
CR’s divisional railway manager SK Jain said, “There was no lapse as one EMU local had just passed the spot five minutes before the Mahalaxmi Express got stuck because of sudden rise in the water level.”
Many of the passengers had their first sip of tea or snacks in nearly15 hours after they reached the main road where the district administration had arranged for stay and food at a banquet hall. After the water level reduced in the afternoon, the rescue teams tied a third route to help passengers walk to a nearby road.
Though CR claimed it provided biscuits and water to passengers, many of them complained they did not get anything on train and had to spend the night without food and water as the train did not have a pantry. Vaibhav Phahake, a rescued passenger, told TOI, “My family told me on phone that CR said it sent biscuits and water but we did not get anything on train.” Another passenger, Taruna Bhandari, said the same thing. “We had to share our food and water among us and we got nothing from the railways. The local villagers provided us with snacks and tea.”
However, another passenger, Parsha More, said, “One team that came inside the train provided us some snacks but we did not get water. We had to stay without water for over 15 hours.”
Jagatsingh Girase, special development officer of Ulhasnagar division, said: “After rescuing the people, we arranged for private and civic buses to take them to Kalyan.” An official said the CR arranged a special train from Badlapur to CSMT at 6.30pm for those who wanted to return to Mumbai.
MASSIVE EXERCISE: Passengers being rescued from the marooned Mahalaxmi Express in Badlapur on Saturday
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