Mumbai local train services, aka the lifeline of the city, were suspended 6 months ago. While the general public still can’t avail of the public transport, the network has opened partially for essential workers.
Recently, visuals of an overcrowded train went viral on Twitter with people slamming the lack of social distancing at the station as well as the compartments. Mumbai Mirror reports that the footage is from Platform 3 at Borivali station taken on September 23 at 5.22 pm.
Borivali station, Mumbai. Today. pic.twitter.com/QGspNgPPD3
— Sheela Bhatt (@sheela2010) September 24, 2020
Mumbai Local. ☹️ pic.twitter.com/bex2T4ZSCx
— Awanish Sharan (@AwanishSharan) September 24, 2020
Social distancing in #Mumbai local stations. pic.twitter.com/HxHF1kx6Q4
— Visakh Koyippurathu (@VisakhVimala) September 24, 2020
Many highlighted how the crowds would result in more positive cases in the coming weeks while others pointed out that some people just couldn’t afford private transportation.
This is a Covid19 petri dish of disastrous proportions for Mumbai. What a dire situation India is in. Neither do people respect the rules intended to keep them safe and nor is there the physical infrastructure to make it feasible to observe the rules. https://t.co/WH4uYqXnTm
— Rupa Subramanya (@rupasubramanya) September 24, 2020
Social distancing… ??
Won't they become #Covid19 super spreader? https://t.co/sfFLhndLSA— Pramod (@P_K_Srivastava) September 24, 2020
There is no space for corona to enter #duh https://t.co/aWCEC2GIRw
— Dr LoneTraveler (@voyageursolita) September 24, 2020
Social distancing goes for toss on a Mumbai local train. https://t.co/g0HNuK1FmJ
— Bhartendu Bhushan (@BhartenduBhush6) September 24, 2020
While it’s easy to criticise these people & very tempting to make Corona memes on this, most of these people have no choice. They are not traveling to Goa amidst a pandemic. They are trying to make ends meet. Not everyone has the luxury of working from home or not working at all https://t.co/1TcKu5p2W2
— Prachi Bhardwaj (@ThatLegalEditor) September 24, 2020
Social distancing is a privilege. #Coronavirusindia https://t.co/3yJ3sa2vF4
— Zeba Warsi (@Zebaism) September 24, 2020
We are doomed 🤦🏼♂️ #COVID19 https://t.co/Qrs0JdHfj4
— VT-VLO🇮🇳🏳️🌈✈️ (@Vinamralongani) September 25, 2020
Areee #Corona ko suffocation ho rha hai ….. Kuch to space rhne do https://t.co/xf3JR3XvkK
— 🐧A$Hu 🐧 (@iamashutjha) September 24, 2020
Mid-day quoted Western Railway chief public relations officer Sumit Thakur saying, “There was heavy rain resulting in disruption for 7 hours between Churchgate-Andheri leading to cancellations. Of 500 services, a total of only 237 services could be run due to waterlogging as much as 300 mm above rail level. The crowd at Borivli was unusual due to evening rush hour and cancellations. Till yesterday, not a single instance of such crowding had been reported.”
Heavy rains on 23 Sept led to cancellation of 263 out of 500 services, resulting in rush at Borivali.
But, WR created capacity ahead of demand on real time basis.
Today, situation is perfectly normal in evening as evident in this video similar was the situation on 22/9. @drmbct pic.twitter.com/ntwJ5T6PFa
— Western Railway (@WesternRly) September 24, 2020
There was heavy rains on 23 Sept 2020 due to which 233 suburban services were cancelled between Churchgate – Andheri resulting in unusual rush at Borivali in the evening. Extra Virar 15 car service was run to accommodate passengers. WR is running more services than demand. pic.twitter.com/QnTmIBl8zu
— Western Railway (@WesternRly) September 24, 2020
Do you think the number of passengers who can enter the trains should be restricted? Tell us.