Massive power outage leaves trains stuck on tracks in Mumbai; services resume partially

Train services came to a halt, homes and businesses were without electricity and people sweltered in humid heat as a grid failure resulted in massive power outages across Mumbai on October 12, 2020. As the day progressed, power restoration efforts began on “war footing”. Trains have started to resume operations, beginning with CR's Harbour Line. The trains are carrying only essential services workers at present, which helped minimise the passenger inconvenience. Railway services across the city on the Western Railway and Central Railway came to a grinding halt at 10:05 hrs as a result of the power outage, with both the networks blaming power cut from Tata Power (their power supplier) for it. State's Power Minister Nitin Raut said the trouble emanated from Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company (MSETCL) facilities during planned maintenance work. Tata Power, which is into both generation and distribution, attributed the power outage to a simultaneous substation tripping at 10:10 hrs at state-run transmission company MSETCL's two substations in the suburbs of Kalwa and Kharghar. Raut said power supply will resume soon, as officials were working on it on a war footing. As the afternoon progressed, power at many pockets including the Bandra Kurla Complex business district, Lower Parel and South Mumbai started resuming. With work-from-home (WFH) becoming the norm across vital industries like banking, finance and information technology, employee output was also impacted as the residences do not have electricity backup, which generally has stable power. “Restoration work in is in progress to bring supply from the three hydro units and Trombay units once the MSETCL transmission lines are connected,” the Tata Power statement said.Another official also said that it is a grid failure, and efforts are underway to restore power supply at the earliest with the help of Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company and Power Grid Corporation. Power outages were reported from suburbs like Thane, Panvel, Dombivili and Kalyan as well.

Due to power outage in Mumbai, passengers heading to Mumbai get off at the Borivali station looking for an alternative route.

A BMC nurse writes Covid-19 daily report with the help of her cell phone torch.

A local train stranded due to a major power cut in several areas after grid failure in Mumbai on October 12, 2020.

A shopkeeper fans himself with a piece of cardboard after a major power cut in several areas due to grid failure in Mumbai.

A man uses mobile phone torch at medical store during a major power cut in several areas after grid failure in Mumbai.

Traffic seen on P D'Mello road as signal service stop working after power failure.

Shop owners in dark on first business day of the week in Thane post the power failure.

Empty shops after the power failure in Mumbai.

Customers waiting outside ATM of a bank after power failure.