In the first incident, contractual labourer Raju (30) died and two others, Vasudev (26) and Ganesh (19) were injured as a track relaying train gantry derailed between Ambernath and Badlapur stations
Photo for representational purpose
One person died and two were injured in an accident between Ambernath and Badlapur stations in the early hours of Wednesday. In another incident an excavator blocked the Kalyan-bound slow line. Both led to slowing down of train services.
In the first incident, contractual labourer Raju (30) died and two others, Vasudev (26) and Ganesh (19) were injured as a track relaying train gantry derailed between Ambernath and Badlapur stations.
As per railway officials, during maintenance block from 2.05 am to 5.10 am between the stations, the gantry of track relaying train derailed affecting services. It also led to one of the labourers being trapped between the engine and track machine.
A railway spokesperson said three contractual labourers were injured in the incident. “They were rushed to Kalyan Hospital. While two are stable, one succumbed to injuries at the site. His body has been handed over to Gramin Hospital, Badlapur,” he added.
The track relaying train gantry derailed between Ambernath and Badlapur stations. Pic courtesy/ Rajendra B Aklekar
Officials said that on receiving information, teams from HQ and Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai Division along with other officials and staff rushed to the site. An auxiliary relief train and medical van also reached the spot. About 150 railway staff and workers were on the job to restore the traffic. After clearing the site, the train services in the section were restored at 9.40 am, said Central Railway chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar. During this period, suburban services were running between CSMT-Ambarnath and Badlapur-Karjat stations.
Railway unions condemned the administration over making untrained contract labour to operate such crucial machines. “We had been warning the railway administration that operating the machine requires training and that contract casual labourers should not be allowed to use them. In fact, we had raised the issue and also staged a protest and what we feared has happened today,” said Venu P Nair, general secretary of the National Railway Mazdoor Union.
The excavator failed at the Kalayan-bound slow line. Pic courtesy/ Rajendra B Aklekar
In the second incident, an excavator working on tracks on the Kalyan-bound slow line to clear muck and garbage between Thakurli and Kalyan failed leading to blocking of the line. Trains had to be diverted along the stretch affecting services. Trade unions said that the excavator had no reason to be on the tracks and the work was going on without taking an adequate block.
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