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

A packed TitwalaCSMT AC local turned into an oven during Mondayrsquos morning rush after its airconditioning failed mdash 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 ventilationCrowding blocked AC resetCR said the AC failure occurred because the system did not automatically draw power from the adjacent unit as it is designed to doSweating commuters step out of the train after the airconditioning failed during the morning rush PicBy Special ArrangementAn 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 capacityEyewitnesses allege helpline failuregtgt Passengers said the AC stopped functioning from around Divagtgt They alleged that repeated calls to the railway helpline went unanswered and that the trainrsquos talkback mechanism wasnrsquot responsivePassengers and railway staff assist commuters who complained of suffocation on the overcrowded train PicBy Special Arrangementgtgt When the train reached Mulund around 938 am commuters requested that it remain halted until the fault was rectified saying many were struggling to breathegtgt 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 linegtgt CR denied the allegation saying its priority was to provide medical assistance and restore normal operationsWhat should have happenedUnder normal operating conditionsgtgt The AC system should automatically draw power from the adjacent coach if one unit failsThe TitwalaCSMT AC local runs with its doors open between Mulund and Kurla to improve ventilation after the airconditioning system failed PicBy Special Arrangementgtgt An onboard TSRT technician is available to reset the system if requiredCR said neither could happen because the backup system failed and the technician could not reach the reset switch due to overcrowdingCRrsquos versiongtgt A Central Railway spokesperson saidgtgt ldquoThe 833 am TitwalaCSMT AC local suffered an AC failure during the journey The train was detained at Mulund between 938 am and 954 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 ventilationrdquogtgt The spokesperson added that an inquiry had been initiated into the technical failureOne commuter hospitalisedAccording to CR 43yearold 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 1130 am Several other passengers who complained of suffocation were given first aid and water before continuing their journeyDoctor speaksDr Rajusingh Rathod MT Agarwal HospitallsquoHe 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 comfortablyrsquoFirstperson accountFahim AnsarilsquoI am still in shock For the first few minutes I didnrsquot understand what was happening The next thing I remember I was in the hospital on oxygen support I just want to restrsquoVoicesMukesh Makhija commuterlsquoPassengers 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 mdash they are a responsibilityrsquoChetan Bordawekar commuterlsquoThe 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 schedulesrsquoRajesh Ghanghav president KalyanKasaraKarjat Railway Passengersrsquo AssociationlsquoThe real solution is increasing the number of suburban services Whether AC or nonAC commuters continue to travel in dangerously overcrowded trainsrsquoMadhu Kotian president of Mumbai Rail Pravasi SanghThis incident has exposed a serious safety gap If an onboard technician cannot even reach the AC control panel because the train is packed beyond capacity then the emergency response system itself has failed Passenger safety should never depend on whether someone can push through a crowded coach Railways must redesign access to critical controls and put protocols in place to prevent such situations from recurring