29 July,2026 10:05 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
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A coach of the Ernakulam-Pune Superfast Express was detached at Panvel railway station in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday morning after railway staff detected a mechanical defect during inspection. Passengers travelling in the affected coach were safely accommodated in other coaches before the train resumed its journey, officials said.
The incident involved Train No. 22149, which was travelling from Ernakulam to Pune. Railway officials said the decision to remove the coach was taken as a precaution to ensure passenger safety. No injuries were reported.
According to the Central Railway, the Ernakulam-Pune Superfast Express reached Panvel station at around 6.30 am when railway personnel discovered a broken control arm in the B1 coach during routine checks.
The defect resulted in a Carriage and Wagon (C&W) failure, prompting officials to immediately assess the situation. A broken control arm is a critical mechanical issue that can affect the safe operation of a coach, making it necessary to remove the affected compartment before allowing the train to continue.
Following the inspection, railway authorities detached the B1 coach from the train as a safety measure. Passengers travelling in the coach were shifted to available seats in other coaches before the train departed from Panvel.
Officials said the relocation of passengers was completed smoothly, allowing the train to continue its onward journey towards Pune without the defective coach. No passenger was injured or stranded during the operation.
Panvel railway station, where the incident occurred, is located approximately 100 kilometres from Pune Junction and serves as a key halt for several long-distance trains.
Railway authorities said removing the coach was a precautionary step to avoid any potential risk during the remainder of the journey. Technical teams remained at the station to examine the detached coach and address the mechanical issue.
Officials did not indicate any major disruption to rail services due to the incident.
In a separate railway incident, smoke was detected in one of the coaches of the Kolhapur-Mumbai Mahalaxmi Express near Karjat in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Tuesday morning, briefly causing panic among passengers.
The incident occurred in the Monkey Hill section, around 90 kilometres from Mumbai. According to the Government Railway Police (GRP), the smoke was suspected to have been caused by a short circuit.
Railway officials quickly inspected the affected coach and carried out the necessary checks before allowing the train to continue its journey.
"No one was injured in the incident," Karjat GRP Senior Police Inspector Kiran Matkar said.
The Mahalaxmi Express, which was scheduled to pass Karjat station at around 5.30 am, was delayed after smoke was noticed in one of its coaches. Following inspection and safety clearance by railway authorities, the train crossed Karjat station at around 6.15 am and resumed normal operations.
