Mumbai-Ahmedabad train traffic hit as Narmada river crosses danger mark in Gujarat; passengers stranded
The Hindu
Train traffic on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route has been halted for nearly 11 hours as the Narmada river is flowing above the danger mark between Bharuch and Ankleshwar stations
Train traffic on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route has been halted for nearly 11 hours since September 17 as the Narmada river is flowing above the danger mark between Bharuch and Ankleshwar stations in Gujarat, Western Railway said on Monday.
The train traffic between Bharuch and Ankleshwar stations in the Vadodara division on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route stopped after Narmada river waters surged above the danger mark at brigade no. 502 at around 11:50 pm on Sunday, Western Railway's Chief PRO Sumit Thakur told PTI.
He said the river water level is still above the danger mark though it has started receding.
"All the passenger and goods trains on both ends of the river have been held up due to the flood. Arrangements are being made to provide refreshments, tea, and water to the passengers stranded on trains," he added.
According to our estimates, the water level may fall below the danger mark after a couple of hours, Thakur said.
"Helpline numbers have been set up to assist passengers to get train-related information," he added.
At least one-and-a-half dozen trains, including Mumbai-Ahmedabad Tejas Express and Shatabdi Express, have been cancelled due to the flood, a Western Railway release said.
Capt. Brijesh Chowta, Dakshina Kannada MP, on Saturday urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to facilitate speeding up of ongoing critical infrastructure works in the region, including Mangaluru-Bengaluru NH 75 widening, establishment of Indian Coast Guard Academy, and merger of Konkan Railway Corporation with the Indian Railways.