Ahmedabad, July 23 (IANS) Rail services between Mumbai and Gujarat were severely disrupted on Thursday after floodwaters reached the danger level at a railway bridge between Gholvad and Umargam Road stations, forcing Western Railway to suspend operations on the section and cancel, divert or curtail several passenger services.
Western Railway said the water level at Railway Bridge No. 203, located between Gholvad and Umargam Road stations in the Mumbai Central Division, reached the danger mark, prompting the temporary suspension of train operations as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety.
The disruption began earlier in the day with the cancellation of Train No. 22927 Bandra Terminus-Ahmedabad Lok Shakti Express.
Train No. 12902 Ahmedabad–Dadar Gujarat Mail, dated July 22, was short terminated at Valsad, while Train No. 22956 Bhuj–Bandra Terminus Kutch Superfast Express and Train No. 20908 Bhuj–Dadar Sayaji Nagari Superfast Express, both dated July 22, were short terminated at Udhna.
Train No. 12901 Dadar–Ahmedabad Gujarat Mail, dated July 23, was scheduled to originate from Valsad instead of Dadar. As conditions deteriorated during the day, Western Railway expanded the list of affected services.
By the evening, the Ahmedabad–Valsad Gujarat Queen Express, Vadnagar–Valsad Superfast Express, Bhuj–Bandra Terminus AC Express, Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central Special, Ahmedabad–Dadar Gujarat Mail, Ahmedabad–Borivali Express, Bhuj–Bandra Terminus Kutch Express and Bhuj–Dadar Sayaji Express had all been fully cancelled for July 23.
In its 7 p.m. operational update, Western Railway announced additional cancellations affecting major inter-city services.
These included the Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central Gujarat Superfast Express, Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar Capital–Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express, Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express, Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central Shatabdi Express, Bandra Terminus–Ahmedabad–Bandra Terminus Karnavati Express, Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central AC Double Decker Express and Bandra Terminus–Ahmedabad–Bandra Terminus Lok Shakti Express.
Several long-distance trains were also diverted. Train No. 22919 MGR Chennai Central–Ahmedabad Humsafar Express, dated July 23, was rerouted via Daund, Ankai, Manmad, Jalgaon, Paldhi and Surat.
Train No. 22185 Ahmedabad–Pune Express was diverted via Surat, Paldhi, Jalgaon and Manmad, while Train No. 12298 Pune–Ahmedabad Duronto Express was diverted via Jalgaon, Paldhi, Udhna and Surat.
The rail disruption comes amid exceptionally heavy monsoon rainfall across South Gujarat. Valsad district has been among the worst-affected areas, with widespread flooding, evacuations and major disruption to road and rail transport.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and other agencies have been deployed across affected districts, while several rivers have crossed danger levels.
Authorities have also ordered the closure of schools and colleges in some districts as heavy rainfall continues.
According to reports, train operations were also affected by rising water levels at other railway bridges in the section.
Western Railway later began restoring movement under strict speed restrictions after water levels started receding, although services continued to face delays and operational constraints.
–IANS
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