A segmental launching gantry slipped and collapsed during the construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train near Vatva in Ahmedabad late on Sunday night, March 23. The accident took place at around 11:00 pm, affecting the movement of trains on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad railway route on Western Railway. Many trains have been cancelled, diverted or short-terminated due to the accident.
According to sources, the gantry was being retracted after launching a concrete girder when it lost balance and fell. No injury was reported in the incident. The accident did not damage the bullet train's under-construction bridge, but it caused minor damage to nearby railway tracks, affecting railway operations.
The Vatva-Ahmedabad down-line has been affected after the gantry collapsed, due to which some trains are being run from the up-line. The railway administration immediately dispatched the Accident Relief Train (ART) and senior officials of the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the team of police and fire department reached the spot.
Visuals From Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Constructin Site
"A gantry collapse at the NHSRCL worksite caused an OHE breakdown between Geratpur-Vatva in Ahmedabad Division, disrupting down line trains. Some trains were rescheduled or canceled, while single-line movement on the UP line began. No injuries were reported, and restoration work is ongoing," said Western railway CPRO.
List of Cancelled, Short-Terminated and Diverted Trains on March 24
Train No. 12931 (Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad) Double Decker Express.Train No. 19033 (Valsad – Ahmedabad) Gujarat Queen.Train No. 22953 (Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad) Gujarat Superfast Express.Train No. 20959 (Valsad – Vadnagar) Vadnagar Superfast Express.
Also Read | Rail Traffic Halted in Geratpur-Vatva Section of Ahmedabad Division As Gantry Falls; No Injuries Reported.
List of Short-Terminated and Diverted Trains
Train No. 19417 (Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad) was short-terminated at Vadodara Jn. (BRC).
Train No. 14702 (Bandra Terminus – Sriganganagar) Aravalli Express has been diverted via Vadodara Junction (BRC) – Ratlam (RTM) – Chanderia (CNA) – Ajmer Jn. (AII).
To assist passengers, help desks have been set up at Mumbai Central, Bandra Terminus, Borivali, Udhna Junction, and Surat railway stations.
At present, the railway authorities and the NHSRCL team are engaged in clearing the affected section and normalizing the operation as soon as possible. Passengers travelling on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route have been advised to check the updated schedule.