Western Railway has suspended train operations between Gholvad and Umargam Road stations following heavy monsoon rainfall across Gujarat and Maharashtra. The precautionary measure was enacted after water levels on bridge structures, identified as Bridge No. 203 and Bridge No. 284, reached the danger mark. According to Western Railway officials, the situation remains fluid, and the suspension will persist until water levels recede and the tracks are deemed safe for movement.
Railway Operations Halted by Rising Water Levels
The disruption has caused widespread cancellations, diversions, and short-terminations of major services connecting Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Mumbai. Western Railways Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek stated that while one track towards Mumbai is functional, the railway is exercising extreme caution. Officials are currently monitoring stranded trains, aiming to hold them at railway platforms rather than on open tracks to ensure passengers have access to food stalls and amenities.
Major Service Disruptions
The suspension of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor has impacted several premium high-speed and superfast services. Among the trains fully cancelled for July 23 are:
- Vande Bharat Express services (Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar Capital)
- Shatabdi Express (Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad)
- Karnavati Express (Bandra Terminus–Ahmedabad)
- AC Double Decker Express (Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad)
- Gujarat Superfast Express (Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad)
- August Kranti Rajdhani Express (Mumbai Central–Hazrat Nizamuddin)
- Lok Shakti Express (Bandra Terminus–Ahmedabad)
- Garib Rath Express (Bandra Terminus–Hazrat Nizamuddin)
Other services, including the Ahmedabad–Dadar Gujarat Mail, were short-terminated at Valsad, while the Bhuj–Bandra Terminus Kachchh Superfast Express and Bhuj–Dadar Sayajinagari Superfast Express were terminated at Udhna. Diverted services, such as the MGR Chennai Central–Ahmedabad Humsafar Express and the Pune–Ahmedabad Duronto Express, have been rerouted via alternate paths through Manmad, Jalgaon, and Surat to bypass the affected section.
Passenger Impact and Safety Measures
Passengers reported significant challenges due to the sudden nature of the cancellations. Travelers arriving at stations for scheduled meetings or interviews were informed of the service halts only upon arrival. In response to the cancellations, IRCTC Ahmedabad distributed 1,400 meal packets originally prepared for passengers to the needy through a local NGO to prevent food waste. Helpdesks have been established in Ahmedabad and Vadodara to assist affected travelers.
The dailyprabhat.com has issued a ‘Red Alert’ for the Thane and Palghar districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds. An ‘Orange Alert’ is currently in effect for Mumbai, with expectations of heavy to very heavy rainfall. Given the rapidly changing operating conditions, railway authorities have urged all passengers to verify the latest train status before departing for the station.
Operational Status Summary
Authorities continue to manage the backlog of long-distance trains, with some services, such as the New Delhi–Mumbai Rajdhani Express and the Chandigarh–Bandra Terminus Express, reported to be running significantly behind schedule. The railway is actively managing short-originations and short-terminations for a variety of regional and intercity services to mitigate the impact of the submerged track sections. Commuters are advised to follow official notifications issued by Western Railway for real-time updates on the restoration of services.
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