Heavy rain and severe waterlogging paralysed Western Railway operations on Monday, leaving more than 20 long-distance trains stranded across various stations in Mumbai and south Gujarat, as tracks remained submerged.

As more than 40 train services were affected by cancellations, diversions and delays, railway authorities scrambled to assist stranded passengers and worked to restore connectivity on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad trunk route.

According to Western Railway officials, train services were severely hampered by waterlogging, particularly between the Vasai Road-Virar and Saphale-Palghar sections.

As of 1.50 pm, at least 22 long-distance trains were being regulated at various stations, including Virar, Vangaon, Palghar, Dahanu Road and Valsad, they said.

Throughout the day, more than 40 services were impacted, with at least eight trains rescheduled, 10 cancelled and several others diverted or short-terminated due to heavy rain, waterlogging and a landslide, a WR spokesperson said.

Railway officials said that parts of Maharashtra's Palghar district recorded almost 300 mm of rainfall in just two hours, worsening the situation by 9 am.

Some of the affected long-distance trains included the Bandra Terminus-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Express, the Mumbai Central-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express, the Dadar-Porbandar Saurashtra Express, Bandra Terminus-Chandigarh Express, Bandra Terminus-Hisar Express, Bandra Terminus-Amritsar Express, Bandra Terminus-Bikaner Express, and Bandra Terminus-Veraval Express.

Incoming services from cities such as Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, and Bhuj were halted at stations like Vapi and Surat to prevent further congestion on the flooded network.

In response to the emergency, Western Railway, supported by local NGOs, distributed food packets, water, and refreshments to stranded commuters.

Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek noted that around 500 meal packets were provided to passengers aboard the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Mumbai Central Garib Rath Express at Palghar. Help desks were activated at major hubs, including Mumbai Central, Bandra Terminus, and Surat, to assist those impacted by the delays.

Suburban services on the network were also affected, with trains between Borivali and Churchgate running 15-20 minutes late, while the Virar-Dahanu section faced the most severe disruptions.

Railway authorities have strongly advised passengers to verify the latest status of their trains before heading to stations as restoration efforts continue.

Published on July 6, 2026