Chaos on Mumbai rails: Muck train erupts in flames, services hit

Kurla: A garbage-filled “muck special” train coach caught fire near Kurla on Thursday evening, temporarily affecting suburban train services on the Central Railway.

Around 8.30 pm on Thursday, a coach of a “muck special” train carrying garbage and muck collected from tracks caught fire while stabled on the EMU siding near Kurla. Central Railway officials said it was the first coach of the rake that had ignited. “This muck special coach that caught fire was standing at the EMU siding in Kurla. We immediately began taking all necessary measures to douse the fire,” a CR official said.

Why were suburban services disrupted?

To control the blaze, authorities had to switch off the overhead equipment (OHE) supplying 25,000 volts of electricity between Sion and Vidyavihar stations. This caused temporary suspension of the UP Slow line towards CSMT.

• OHE suspension: 8.38 pm to 8.55 pm
• Fire doused: 8.55 pm

Train services resumed shortly after power restoration

“We had to suspend the rail traffic on the UP Slow line temporarily until the fire fighting was completed,” a CR official confirmed.

Central Railway staff acted promptly with fire-fighting measures. The fire was successfully brought under control within 25 minutes without any reported injuries. Once the blaze was extinguished, power was restored, allowing trains to resume normal operations.

These trains collect garbage and muck from railway tracks and stations to maintain cleanliness across the Central Railway network. While essential, carrying waste materials carries inherent fire risks if safety precautions are not meticulously followed.

The incident highlights the importance of rapid response and coordination by railway officials to prevent disruption and ensure commuter safety. Thanks to prompt action, the fire was contained quickly, and major service delays were avoided.