The decision to cancel trains for commuters expectedly affected thousands, some of whom still tried to get to work. As a large number of such people flocked to the maintenance tower rail wagons that were ferrying railway staff on internal maintenance duty at various stations, the Central Railway on Monday said they were suspending the movement of these trains too.

"When the emergency tower van came to Titwala station at morning, a number of commuters rushed to the station and tried to board it. A number of others simply crowded to take selfies and many rushed to the driver's cabin that was guarded by a policeman to show their ID cards as essential workers," an eyewitness said.