Full Breakdown
Mumbai Central Railway Disruption: Fire, Signalling Failure and Fatal Track Crossings
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In this breakdown
01
Signal Fire Triggers Massive Central Railway Disruption
On October 26, 2026, a fire erupted in the signalling relay room at Kanjurmarg station around 10:00 a.m., damaging the Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) rack and signalling-telecommunications (S&T) instruments and disabling about 24 signals. An overhead-equipment (OHE) fault between Mulund and Thane compounded the problem, forcing the Central Railway (CR) to halt most suburban services on the Thane-CSMT corridor for up to four hours. Trains that ran were delayed 45–90 minutes, and commuters walked along the tracks to reach the next stations.
02
Background & Context
The Central Railway network runs roughly 1,820 suburban services daily, moving nearly 40 lakh commuters. The October 26 incident followed a “Mega Block” maintenance operation the previous day, heightening passenger frustration.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
03
Timeline
- 10:00 a.m., Oct 26 – Fire in Kanjurmarg signalling relay room; CTC rack damaged.
- 9:23 a.m., Oct 26 – OHE fault between Mulund and Thane caused an insulator burst.
- 9:30 a.m., Oct 26 – Short circuit suspected to have ignited the relay-room fire.
- 4:00 p.m., Oct 26 – Two brothers (Kharban Rajbhar, 39; Rahul Rajbhar, 25) die on tracks between Ghatkopar and Vikhroli.
- 5:30 p.m., Oct 26 – Sahil Navnath Thite, 21, is struck by a Kalyan-bound AC local at Bhandup while crossing platforms.
- 7:00 p.m., Oct 26 – Damaged CTC rack and S&T instruments repaired (per CR PR).
- Oct 27 – Officials confirm no signalling problems remained.
04
Data & Statistics
- Three confirmed deaths: the two brothers and Sahil Thite.
- Two injuries from commuters walking on tracks.
- Approximately 70 suburban services and 15 mail/express trains affected.
- Delays ranged from 45 minutes to 90 minutes; some journeys exceeded three hours.
- Four-hour overall service halt before partial restoration in the evening.
05
Official Statements & Responses
Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, said the CTC rack and S&T instruments were repaired by around 7 p.m. on October 26 and that there were no signalling problems on October 27. The railway announced a high-level committee to investigate the fire’s cause. Railway police registered accidental death reports for the three fatalities and described Sahil Thite’s death as a trespassing-related accident.
06
Criticism & Opposition
Sahil Thite’s cousins, Vishal and Sandeep Thite, have demanded compensation, alleging the prolonged disruption forced their relative onto the tracks. They claim five deaths resulted from the incident, though this figure remains unverified. The Rajbhar family has not commented beyond the police report.
07
On-the-Ground Reports
Commuters described chaotic conditions: trains halted for up to an hour and a half, air-conditioning switched off, and platform indicators non-functional. Many passengers walked on the tracks, describing it as “scary like anything.” Cab fares surged, with Uber rides exceeding INR300 and Rapido rides costing INR224 for the remaining nine kilometres.
08
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The Thite family cites five deaths, while police and most outlets confirm three fatalities.
- Police label Sahil Thite’s death a trespassing accident; the family attributes it to railway negligence.
- No CCTV footage exists for the Ghatkopar-Vikhroli incident, leaving the brothers’ exact circumstances unclear.
09
What’s Next
Central Railway’s inquiry committee will examine the relay-room’s cooling and ventilation systems and the sequence of events that led to the fire. Findings are expected in a forthcoming report, with no specific deadline announced.