Mumbai: A routine morning commute turned into a distressing experience for hundereds of passengers after the air conditioning system of a Central Railway AC local train failed during peak hours on Monday, leaving commuters struggling to breathe inside packed coaches. One passenger was hospitalised, while several others complained of breathlessness.
The incident took place on the 8:33 am Titwala CSMT AC local. The situation worsened when the train remained halted at Mulund station for over 10 minutes with its automatic doors shut and the cooling system out of service, causing the coaches to become hot and suffocating.
Passengers said many began feeling uneasy due to the lack of ventilation, with some reportedly fainting before fellow commuters and railway staff stepped in to help. Videos of the incident quickly surfaced on social media, showing anxious passengers tying to cope with the heat inside the train.
Central Railway attributed the incident to a technical fault in one of the train’s air conditioning units. The train was withdrawn from service after passengers were deboarded at Kurla, and the rake has been sent for inspection and repairs.
The incident has once again raised concerns over passenger safety in Mumbai’s AC local trains, where sealed windows make commuters entirely dependent on the air conditioning and ventilation systems. Railway officials have said an inquiry is underway to determine the cause of the malfunction.
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