Coaches of the 59024 Up Valsad-Mumbai Central Fast Passenger crashed into a platform at Boisar railway station after the waterlogged rail tracks sank on Thursday morning. Derailment of the train, which was packed with officegoers, was averted by railway engineering staff who immediately started work on lifting the tracks, which were flooded after Palghar district received heavy rains over the past two days. Railway officials said the incident took place at 7.20 a.m. on Thursday.
A senior railway official said, “Four coaches of the train, except the engine and the seating cum luggage rake, have been diverted from the track.” He added, “Heavy rainfall in the past two days made the soil under the tracks loose. The tracks then sunk when the heavy double decker train pulled into the station. The coaches then crashed into the platform.” Officials said cracks developed on the platform after the coaches crashed into it.
The train has been asked to maintain a speed limit of 30 kmph till engineering staff finish lifting the tracks from the spot over the next two days. Ravindra Bhakar, chief PRO, Western Railway, said the train was halted and the passengers were evacuated and shifted to other trains. A few trains were cancelled and other trains were diverted.
