Rail Roko Protest Over Alleged Abuse Disrupts Mumbai Trains for 10 Hours

A rail roko protest at Badlapur station in Thane over alleged sexual abuse of two girls led to the suspension of local train services and the diversion of 15 outstation trains for ten hours, stranding thousands of passengers. Services resumed after police intervention and track safety checks.

A rail roko protest at Badlapur station in Thane district, sparked by the alleged sexual abuse of two schoolgirls, resulted in the suspension of local train services and the diversion of 15 outstation trains, leaving thousands of passengers stranded for ten hours on Tuesday.

Services were only resumed in the evening after the Central Railway operated a light engine to check track safety following the eviction of protesters by the police. The first suburban train reached Badlapur at 8:05 PM, nearly 10 hours after the initial disruption, according to Swapnil Nila, chief public relations officer of Central Railway.

The protest, which saw thousands blocking tracks, led authorities to arrange buses on the Kalyan-Karjat route to assist stranded commuters. Additional Railway Protection Force personnel were deployed, and power was cut to 25 KV overhead wires for safety amid rain and agitation.

(With inputs from agencies.)