Derailment hits Mumbai peak hour commuters

Mumbai:  A rail inspection van servicing overhead equipment derailed near Umbarmali shortly after midnight hitting the suburban train services of the Central Railway (CR) here on Friday, an official said. Thousands of commuters launched an agitation as there were no sub-urban train services between Asangaon-Kasara. Although efforts were on to clear the tracks during the morning peak hours, stranded irate commuters shouted slogans, while some ran about on the railway tracks at the Vashind station. Others laid siege at the station manager's office demanding restoration of services. "As per latest information, the agitation has ended at Vashind. We have started single line services in both directions. However, there will be delay in clearing all mail-express trains due to bunching," said CR Chief Spokesperson Sunil Udasi. He said that services were affected between Titwala and Kasara for some time and appealed to the commuters to desist from agitations as it would only lead to prolonging the restoration works. The clearing of the affected track s likely to be completed before noon, Udasi said.