Heavy rains cripple Mumbai-Pune rail route as landslides block three lines

According to Central Railway officials, a landslide was reported near Thakurwadi in the Bhor Ghat section. Pics/Central Railway

Train services on the busy Mumbai-Pune railway route were disrupted on Monday after continuous heavy rainfall triggered landslides in the Karjat-Lonavala section, affecting movement on all three railway lines, officials said.

According to Central Railway officials, a landslide was reported near Thakurwadi in the Bhor Ghat section. Another landslide occurred on the middle line between Khandala and Monkey Hill at around 3:05 am.

Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, told PTI that the landslides forced authorities to suspend operations and regulate several train services.

"Due to incessant heavy rainfall in the South East Ghat section between Karjat and Lonavala, a landslide occurred between Thakurvadi and Monkey Hill Loop Cabin on the Up Main Line of Mumbai Division," Nila told PTI.

All three railway lines affected due to debris

Officials said the Mumbai-Pune railway route has three tracks in the challenging Bhor Ghat section - the line towards Mumbai, the line towards Pune and the middle line. All three lines were affected following the landslides.

Railway teams were deployed at the affected locations to clear debris and restore normal operations. Officials said safety inspections will be carried out before train movement resumes fully on the route.

The section is considered crucial as it connects Mumbai with Pune and handles several passenger and long-distance trains daily.

Several Mumbai-Pune trains cancelled

Due to the disruption, Central Railway cancelled several trains operating between Mumbai and Pune.

The cancelled services include the CSMT-Pune Indrayani Express, Intercity Express, Deccan Express, Deccan Queen, Pragati Express and Dhule Express.

Additional services, including the Pune-CSMT Sinhagad Express and other trains, were also cancelled due to the impact of the landslides.

Officials said several long-distance trains were diverted, short-terminated, short-originated or rescheduled to manage operations while restoration work continued.

Restoration work underway after landslides

Central Railway officials said teams are working to remove debris from the affected tracks and restore services at the earliest.

Authorities said the movement of trains will resume only after the tracks are inspected and declared safe for operations.

Passengers planning to travel on the Mumbai-Pune route have been advised to check the latest status of their trains before leaving for stations.

Helplines issued for passenger assistance

To help commuters during the disruption, Central Railway has activated helpline numbers at major stations.

Passengers can contact CSMT at 022-22694040, Thane at 9321336747, Lonavala at 8356854238 and Dadar at 9136452387 for updates related to train services.

Officials said passengers should rely on official information as restoration efforts continue in the rain-affected ghat section.

(With inputs from PTI)