June 21, 2025: Mumbai’s suburban and long-distance rail services were severely disrupted on Friday evening following a fault in the overhead electric (OHE) wire system near Palghar station, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded during the peak rush hour.
The technical failure, which occurred around 6:55 p.m., brought both up and down services on the Western Railway network to a halt. Officials confirmed the fault was due to an OHE wire snag near Palghar, situated over 100 kilometres from the city. A tower wagon — a specialised maintenance vehicle — was dispatched to the site for urgent repair. However, services remained affected late into the night.
The timing of the fault compounded commuter distress, particularly for office workers and daily wage earners travelling from Mumbai to outlying suburbs and towns. Several local and long-distance trains were halted mid-journey, highlighting ongoing concerns over the railway’s infrastructure resilience, especially during the monsoon. Although the root cause remains under investigation, railway engineers cited potential reasons such as material fatigue, maintenance lapses, or abrupt weather-related stress.
In a separate incident, the city’s suburban network also witnessed disruption following a physical altercation aboard a Ladies Special local near Bhayandar. A viral video showed a scuffle between women commuters over boarding space, escalating from a verbal spat to physical confrontation. Railway Protection Force personnel intervened, escorting those involved to the Bhayandar Railway Police Post. No official complaints were filed, and the matter was resolved through counselling.
Railway authorities have pledged to increase security during peak hours, especially on women-only trains. “Passenger safety remains our top priority,” said a Western Railway official.
Partial services resumed on certain stretches by late evening, but full normalisation was expected to take several hours. Commuters have been urged to check live updates before planning travel.
Source: Urban Acres
