Mumbai AC local turns into oven after air-conditioning fails; packed Titwala-CSMT train runs with doors open

Commuters attend to passengers who fainted after the AC failed on the packed Titwala-CSMT local. Pics/By Special Arrangement

A packed Titwala-CSMT AC local turned into an oven during Monday's morning rush after its air-conditioning failed - and the onboard technician, deployed to fix such breakdowns, was unable to reach the AC reset switch because of the crush of passengers. The failure left commuters gasping for breath, with one passenger hospitalised and the train forced to run 15 km with its doors open for ventilation.

Crowding blocked AC reset

CR said the AC failure occurred because the system did not automatically draw power from the adjacent unit, as it is designed to do.

Sweating commuters step out of the train after the air-conditioning failed during the morning rush. Pic/By Special Arrangement

An inquiry has been ordered to determine why the backup system failed. Officials also said the onboard technician could not access the AC reset switch because the coach was packed beyond capacity.

Eyewitnesses allege helpline failure

>> Passengers said the AC stopped functioning from around Diva.

>> They alleged that repeated calls to the railway helpline went unanswered and that the train's talk-back mechanism wasn't responsive.

Passengers and railway staff assist commuters who complained of suffocation on the overcrowded train. Pic/By Special Arrangement

>> When the train reached Mulund around 9.38 am, commuters requested that it remain halted until the fault was rectified, saying many were struggling to breathe.

>> Some passengers also alleged that Railway Protection Force personnel asked them to close the doors because the halted train was affecting services on the slow line.

>> CR denied the allegation, saying its priority was to provide medical assistance and restore normal operations.

What should have happened?

Under normal operating conditions:

>> The AC system should automatically draw power from the adjacent coach if one unit fails.

The Titwala-CSMT AC local runs with its doors open between Mulund and Kurla to improve ventilation after the air-conditioning system failed. Pic/By Special Arrangement

>> An onboard TSRT technician is available to reset the system if required.

CR said neither could happen because the backup system failed and the technician could not reach the reset switch due to overcrowding.

CR's version

>> A Central Railway spokesperson said:

>> "The 8.33 am Titwala-CSMT AC local suffered an AC failure during the journey. The train was detained at Mulund between 9.38 am and 9.54 am after commuters complained of suffocation. One passenger was shifted to the hospital, while others were administered first aid and water. The train was subsequently run with doors open between Mulund and Kurla to improve ventilation."

>> The spokesperson added that an inquiry had been initiated into the technical failure.

One commuter hospitalised
According to CR, 43-year-old Fahim Ansari developed breathing difficulty and requested medical assistance. He was rushed to MT Agarwal Hospital in Mulund West, where he was treated with oxygen and discharged around 11.30 am. Several other passengers who complained of suffocation were given first aid and water before continuing their journey.

Doctor speaks

Dr Rajusingh Rathod, MT Agarwal Hospital
‘He was brought in with breathlessness. We administered oxygen. His blood pressure had risen because he panicked. After observation for a couple of hours, he was discharged once his blood pressure normalised and he was breathing comfortably.'

First-person account

Fahim Ansari,
‘I am still in shock. For the first few minutes, I didn't understand what was happening. The next thing I remember, I was in the hospital on oxygen support. I just want to rest.'

Voices

Mukesh Makhija, commuter
‘Passengers pay a premium fare expecting premium service, yet repeated AC failures expose serious lapses in maintenance. Reliable and safe AC services are not a luxury - they are a responsibility'

Chetan Bordawekar, commuter
‘The authorities must conduct a thorough inquiry, identify those responsible, review the emergency response and ensure such incidents are not repeated. Passenger safety must take precedence over train schedules'

Rajesh Ghanghav, president, Kalyan-Kasara-Karjat Railway Passengers' Association
‘The real solution is increasing the number of suburban services. Whether AC or non-AC, commuters continue to travel in dangerously overcrowded trains'