Mumbai’s busy suburban rail network witnessed a brief disruption on Thursday evening after a fire broke out in one of the coaches of a train carrying muck and garbage near Kurla railway station. The incident, which occurred on the Central Railway’s Main line, led to a temporary suspension of power supply to the overhead equipment and affected the movement of local trains for a short period, officials said.

According to Central Railway (CR) authorities, the fire broke out around 8.30 pm in the first coach of a special “muck train” that was stationed on a siding line near Kurla. These special trains are routinely used by the railways to transport garbage, debris, and muck collected during track maintenance and cleaning operations across the suburban network.

Fire Breaks Out in Siding Area

Officials said the affected rake was stabled at the EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) siding in Kurla when smoke and flames were noticed emanating from one of the coaches. The coach was filled with waste material collected from railway tracks and nearby areas, which is known to be highly combustible, especially if it includes dry refuse.

“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 Central Railway official said, adding that railway staff responded swiftly to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent coaches or nearby infrastructure.

Firefighting teams were rushed to the spot, and railway staff cordoned off the area as a precautionary measure. Given the presence of high-voltage overhead equipment in the vicinity, officials decided to temporarily cut off the power supply to ensure the safety of personnel involved in firefighting operations.

Power Supply Suspended for Safety

To facilitate firefighting and eliminate the risk of electrocution, the overhead equipment (OHE), which supplies 25,000 volts of electricity to electric trains, was switched off between Vidyavihar and Sion railway stations. According to railway officials, the power shutdown lasted for approximately 25 minutes.

“The OHE was turned off between Vidyavihar and Sion from 8.38 pm to 8.55 pm for the purpose of dousing the fire,” another Central Railway official said. During this period, train movement on certain sections had to be regulated and temporarily halted.

As a result of the power suspension, rail traffic on the UP Slow line, which carries trains heading towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), was temporarily stopped. This led to brief delays and bunching of suburban services on the Main line during the evening peak hours, a time when commuter density is typically high.

Fire Doused, Services Restored Quickly

Firefighting operations continued for several minutes, and by around 8.55 pm, the fire was successfully brought under control. Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported in the incident, and there was no damage to passenger coaches, signalling systems, or nearby railway property beyond the affected muck coach.

“The fire was doused at 8.55 pm, and soon after that the OHE was restored to enable the resumption of train services,” a CR official said. Once the power supply was reinstated, suburban train services on the affected section gradually returned to normal.

Railway authorities also carried out a quick inspection of the tracks and overhead equipment before allowing full-scale operations to resume, to ensure there was no residual risk to train movement.

Impact on Commuters

While the disruption was relatively brief, some commuters did experience short delays during the incident. Passengers travelling on the Central Railway Main line reported temporary halts and slower movement of trains as services were regulated during the power shutdown.

However, railway officials said the impact was contained due to the swift response of staff and coordination between different departments. Announcements were made at stations to inform passengers about the temporary disruption and the expected resumption of services.

By late evening, train operations on the Main line were largely back on schedule, with only minor residual delays reported.

Cause of the Fire Under Review

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Railway officials said an inquiry would be conducted to ascertain what triggered the blaze in the garbage-laden coach. Fires in muck or garbage trains can sometimes occur due to the presence of flammable materials, chemical waste, or smouldering refuse that ignites under certain conditions.

Sources indicated that officials would also examine whether there was any external factor involved or whether spontaneous combustion of waste material could have led to the fire. Preventive measures, including stricter monitoring of waste composition and storage conditions in such trains, may be reviewed following the incident.

Importance of Swift Response

The incident once again highlighted the importance of quick decision-making and coordination in a dense urban rail network like Mumbai’s, where even a minor disruption can affect thousands of commuters. Central Railway officials stressed that cutting off power supply, though disruptive, was a necessary safety measure to protect firefighting teams and prevent a larger accident.

Mumbai’s suburban rail system carries millions of passengers daily, and areas like Kurla are particularly sensitive due to the convergence of multiple lines and the presence of yards, sidings, and maintenance facilities.

No Lasting Damage, Normalcy Restored

Railway authorities confirmed that there was no lasting damage to railway operations and that the incident did not affect long-distance or express trains in a significant way. Cleanup operations were undertaken after the fire was extinguished, and the affected coach was isolated for further inspection.

By late night, officials reiterated that suburban services were running normally on the Central Railway Main line.

“The situation is fully under control, and there is no impact on regular train operations now,” a senior official said.

While such incidents are rare, railway authorities said they continue to review safety protocols to minimise risks associated with the movement and stabling of maintenance and garbage trains, particularly in high-traffic suburban sections like Kurla.