Mumbai Heavy Rains Halt Trains Eight Hours 11 Express Cancelled
Heavy downpour in Mumbai on Tuesday brought the city’s rail network to a grinding halt, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and paralysing long-distance operations. Local services on the Central Railway’s main and harbour corridors were suspended for nearly eight hours, while Western Railway saw widespread cancellations, underscoring the vulnerability of Mumbai’s transport backbone to extreme weather.
Train operations between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Thane, along with CSMT to Mankhurd, were suspended from late morning after tracks were submerged under nearly half a foot of water. The situation was compounded by the swelling Mithi River, which breached the danger mark, forcing authorities to halt suburban as well as express trains. Services could resume only by evening, with the first train on the Central line restarting after 7 pm.
At major stations such as CSMT, Dadar, Thane and Kalyan, massive crowds built up through the day as passengers waited anxiously for resumption of services. Office-goers and daily wage workers bore the brunt of the disruption, with many forced to either return home or wait in congested station premises. Rail officials introduced a few short-distance services late in the night, but crowding remained severe across corridors.
Western Railway managed to keep slow corridor services alive, though with long delays. Nearly 100 suburban trips and two passenger trains were cancelled during the day, creating chaos for regular travellers. Several mail and express services were rescheduled, short-terminated or diverted to manage the disruption. In total, 35 long-distance trains were affected, with 14 fully cancelled and 11 services, including Vande Bharat and other premium trains, cancelled for Wednesday. Officials cited safety concerns as the key reason behind the prolonged suspension, with waterlogging near Kurla, Sion, Govandi and Mankhurd making track movement unsafe. According to experts, the incident once again highlights the growing pressure on Mumbai’s outdated rail infrastructure, which continues to falter under climate-induced extreme rainfall events.
Transport specialists argue that sustainable drainage systems, elevated track sections, and better integration with eco-friendly public transport options are critical to reducing disruption in a city where suburban trains move over seven million passengers daily. Without resilient infrastructure, even a few hours of heavy downpour can bring India’s financial capital to a standstill. For now, passengers are left coping with delays, cancellations, and overcrowding. As monsoon rains intensify, the challenge before railway planners is clear — modernise, adapt and invest in sustainable urban transport systems that protect the lifeline of Mumbai’s mobility.
