To save the lives of hundreds of commuters, the motorman had hit the brake hard which led to derailment of the seven compartments of the train, operating on the Western Line, slid onto the adjoining track. Disaster was averted as an alert driver on the approaching train hit the brakes, preventing a collision.
“It is an unprecedented accident. The driver braked. Otherwise it could have been worse. We are probing the cause,” said Shailendra Kumar Divisional Railway Manager of the Western Railways.
The coaches derailed just ahead of north Mumbai’s Andheri, one of the city’s busiest and biggest stations.
Because the train was moving slowly to pull out of the station when the accident took place, the injuries were minimal. Two people were hurt, with one suffering a minor fracture in the ankle.
The train was plying from Andheri to Churchgate when seven of its coaches derailed. Few passengers were said to be injured.
The train coming from Borivili to Churchgate derailed at around 11 am between Andheri and Vile Parle stations, the second such incident involving local trains in as many days.
A team of engineers and rescue officials have rushed to the spot to restore the services, said Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Western Railway, Sharat Chandrayan.
An inquiry would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the derailment, he added.
The suburban train services were badly affected on the busy route due to the derailment, causing trouble to commuters.
“Trains have been so delayed. Luckily it happened as peak hour ended. But if it’s not up by this evening, I won’t reach home before midnight,” said one commuter at Churchgate station who lives at the end of the route at Virar.
