Mumbai local derailment
Mumbai local derailmentIANS

Heavy rains and overnight water-logging severely disrupted local train services on the Central and Harbour railway lines on Tuesday, making it difficult for people, including office-goers, to commute.

According to DNA, trains are running at least an hour behind schedule. "Due to heavy rains water logging at Mankhurd, Vidyavihar, Thane, Vikroli, Bhandup CR main & harbour line train services affected," a Central Railway official was quoted by the daily as saying.

The Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted a senior railway official as saying that the failure of the Mandovi Express engine at Dadar station, protests by agitated passengers at Diva station and warning of a landslide near Parsik tunnel (close to Mumbra) majorly disrupted train operations of Central Railway this morning. This caused several trains to slow down, while fast trains were diverted to the slow line.

"Additionally, few passengers came on the tracks due to unavailability of space on platforms at Diva station which prompted railway police and RPF authorities to deploy the additional force at the station to prevent any untoward incident," the official was quoted by PTI as saying.

However, agitated passengers climbed down the tracks to protest against the delay of trains at the Diva station in Thane, the Times of India reported. Commuters also pelted stones at passing trains in an attempt to stop them. Many vented their frustration on Twitter.

However, Thane police dispersed the crowd and brought the situation under control, according to the Indian Express.