The recent spate of heavy rainfall in Gujarat has led to significant disruptions in railway services, particularly affecting trains departing from Mumbai. In a press release, Western Railway announced the cancellation of several key train services due to the adverse weather conditions impacting the Bajawa-Ranoli stretch in the Vadodara Division and the Wadharva-Maliya Miyana section in the Ahmedabad Division.
The inclement weather, characterised by intense downpours, has rendered certain sections of the rail tracks unsafe for travel, compelling authorities to take precautionary measures. As a result, multiple trains scheduled to depart from Mumbai on 28th August 2024 have been cancelled. The affected services include prominent routes such as the Dadar-Bhuj Superfast Express (Train No. 20907), Bandra Terminus-Bhuj Express (Train No. 22955), Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Gujarat Superfast Express (Train No. 22953), and Nandurbar-Borivali Express (Train No. 19426). In addition, the Borivali-Ahmedabad Express (Train No. 19417) scheduled for 29th August 2024, has also been cancelled.
Western Railway has advised passengers to stay updated on the latest developments and make alternative travel arrangements, given the severity of the situation. This disruption comes as a precautionary response to ensure the safety of passengers and to avoid potential hazards that could arise from operating trains under such challenging weather conditions. Meanwhile, the state of Gujarat has been grappling with the aftermath of the heavy rains, which have claimed seven lives and displaced over 15,000 people across various districts. The worst-affected areas include Vadodara, where the Vishwamitri River breached its danger level, leading to severe flooding and the evacuation of nearly 3,000 households.
The government has deployed six Army battalions, along with 14 NDRF and 22 SDRF teams, to assist in rescue operations across the state. In the past two days alone, over 23,870 people have been relocated to safer locations. The Indian Air Force and Coast Guard have also been mobilised to aid in rescue efforts, particularly in the most heavily impacted regions such as Morbi and Jamnagar. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast further heavy rainfall in Gujarat, particularly in the Saurashtra-Kutch region, in the coming days. Authorities have issued warnings for 96 reservoirs that are currently above the danger level, with 19 at imminent risk of overflowing.
