Intermittent water dripping from overhead toilet blocks leaves Harbour Line commuters drenched during peak hours, with the railways blaming a possible overflowing tank
Water dripping from elevated toilet blocks above the ticket booking offices at Masjid station falls onto passing harbour line trains, soaking commuters during peak hours; (right) The elevated toilet block above the ticket booking office at Masjid station. Pics/Rajendra B Aklekar
Water dripping from elevated toilet blocks above the ticket booking offices at Masjid Bunder station has been falling directly onto passing local trains, leaving commuters angry and soaked. Passengers said the dripping water soiled clothes, especially those of people forced to stand at the footboard due to overcrowding. When mid-day visited the station on two consecutive days, it found water dripping intermittently onto trains running on the CSMT-bound harbour line, affecting commuters during peak hours.
Passengers said such incidents highlight poor maintenance and lack of routine inspections, raising serious questions about accountability until an accident or injury occurs.
“The things commuters are subjected to are unbelievable. Shouldn’t the railways be more careful about structures built above active railway lines? This is gross negligence. The ultimate sufferers are commuters,” said Akash Golwani, a daily passenger.
What railway rules say
According to Indian Railways’ engineering and safety norms, no water discharge, leakage or overflow is permitted from station structures located above active railway tracks, as it poses safety risks to passengers and can damage rolling stock.
All overhead utilities, including toilet blocks, water tanks and pipelines, are required to have proper drainage systems that divert water away from tracks and trains. Railway safety guidelines also mandate regular inspections of station buildings, particularly those constructed above running lines, to prevent such hazards.
CommuterSpeak
“This incident shows how much importance commuters are given by the railways. Everything is done in the name of passenger amenities, but in reality, even basic safety is being ignored, leaving commuters in the lurch,” said Subhash Gupta, member of a commuter association.
“We are already hanging at the footboard because of overcrowding, and now water is dripping on us from above. Our clothes get soaked, and nobody from the railways seems to care. Is this how passenger safety and dignity are treated every day?” said Rohit Mehta, a daily commuter.
“This is not an accident; this is negligence. Structures above running trains should be checked regularly, but clearly, no one is doing their job. Only commuters pay the price for this apathy,” said office-goer Sunita Deshpande. “When water falls on a moving train, people can lose balance. Today it’s dirty water, tomorrow it could be something far more dangerous. Railways will act only after someone gets hurt,” said Harbour Line passenger Imran Shaikh.
On Friday, engineering department officials visited the site to fix the problem. “The washbasin outlet pipe was broken, hence was leaking. It has now been disconnected and the leakage stopped. The pipe will be replaced shortly,” an official said.
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