Mumbai : Mumbai came to a grinding halt on Thursday as a sudden strike by Central Railway (CR) employees disrupted suburban train services, leaving thousands of daily commuters stranded at stations across the city.
The unannounced protest began at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), one of the busiest railway hubs in India, and quickly spread to other parts of the Central line. Crowds of confused and frustrated passengers filled the platforms as train services were suspended without prior notice.
According to reports, the strike was triggered after railway staff demanded the withdrawal of an FIR registered against several engineers in connection with a previous railway accident. Workers reportedly refused to resume duties until the issue was resolved.
The disruption caused massive inconvenience during peak hours, with passengers stuck for hours and no clear communication from authorities. Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Mumbai Police were deployed to control the situation and manage the agitated crowd.
By late evening, efforts were underway to restore normal services, but many trains remained cancelled or delayed.
The strike once again highlighted Mumbai’s heavy dependence on its suburban train network — often called the city’s lifeline — and how even a brief stoppage can throw millions of lives into chaos.
