Local train services disrupted in Mumbai, protesting commuters lathi-charged

Thane: Local train services were disrupted in Thane on Friday during the morning peak hour, prompting the commuters to agitate and forcing the police to resort to a cane charge.

Thousands of commuters rushing to their offices in south Mumbai and other parts were left stranded as the train services were disrupted or delayed after a wire snapped near the Thakurli railway station in Thane.

Many commuters started an impromptu agitation by squatting on railway track.

Police were rushed to control the situation and they resorted to mild caning to evict the agitating commuters from the railway tracks.

One train motorman sustained minor injuries in the chaos that ensued even as the suburban trains network - the lifeline of Mumbai which carries over seven million commuters daily - was disrupted in the Mumbai-Thane-Raigad regions.

The technical hitch and the subsequent agitation has affected the train services on the suburban and long-distance sectors.

IANS