Central Railway services hit as overhead wires snag; 69 services cancelled from regular schedule

Lakhs of commuters travelling on the Central line on Tuesday had to bear the brunt of a technical issue related to overhead wires. The disruption occurred during the rush hours in the morning between Vikhroli-Ghatkopar on slow up line (towards CST).

A total of 69 services (24 up and 45 down) had to be cancelled from their regular schedule. "The incident occurred at 7:16am and was rectified at 11:10am," said a CR spokesperson.

As a result, suburban local services plied 15-20 minutes later, as CST-bound slow trains were diverted onto the fast track between Mulund and Matunga.

According to an official, a pantograph of Kalyan-CST train had hit a steady arm of overhead electrical equipment at Mulund, damaging the pantograph. When this CST-bound train reached the curve at Vikhroli-Ghatkopar, the pantograph got entangled with the overhead wire, resulting in the dropper (which holds the overhead wire to the mast) getting cut.

In an attempt to ease travelling woes for Mumbaikars, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking pressed in extra services. "All traffic officers were posted on the route to monitor the traffic operation of BEST buses. Extra buses were being operated wherever required," informed a BEST spokesperson.