Protests at Badlapur Railway Station Disrupt Train Services in Thane
Thane, Maharashtra, August 20: Protests erupted at Badlapur railway station on Tuesday, causing significant disruptions to rail services. The protests were in response to the alleged sexual assault of two fourth-grade girls in Badlapur.
Impact on Train Services
The protests led to the diversion of 12 mail express trains and the partial cancellation of 30 local trains. The Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) stated, “Till now approximately 12 mail Express trains have been diverted and Koyna has been rerouted from near to Badlapur back to Kalyan and then towards Karjat via Diva and Panvel. Approximately 30 local trains have been partially cancelled between Ambernath and Karjat Khopoli. The number is likely to increase exponentially with the starting of peak hour.”
However, services from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Ambernath and towards Kasara are running normally.
Efforts to Assist Passengers
To help passengers, the Railways requested 100 buses from state transport departments. “We have requested help from various State transportation for the provision of approximately 100 buses to cater to the requirement of passengers from Kalyan to Karjat. Till now approximately 55 buses have already been moved for the convenience of passengers,” said the CPRO.
Police Intervention
Police used lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse the protestors at Badlapur railway station. Government Railway Police (GRP) Commissioner Ravindra Shisve said, “The track has been cleared and the report will be sent to the railway operations to ensure that the operations can be started.”
The protests were triggered by the alleged sexual assault of two fourth-grade girls, which led to widespread outrage and stone-pelting at the school where the incident occurred. Authorities intervened to control the crowd and restore order.
Doubts Revealed
Badlapur Railway Station -: Badlapur Railway Station is a train station in the town of Badlapur, which is in the Thane district of Maharashtra, India.
Thane -: Thane is a district in the state of Maharashtra, which is in the western part of India. It is near Mumbai, one of the biggest cities in India.
Maharashtra -: Maharashtra is a state in western India. It is one of the largest and most populous states in the country, with Mumbai as its capital.
Mail express trains -: Mail express trains are long-distance trains in India that carry both passengers and mail (letters and packages). They travel between big cities and towns.
Local trains -: Local trains are trains that travel short distances within a city or nearby areas. They are used by people to commute to work, school, and other places daily.
Sexual assault -: Sexual assault is when someone is forced to do something sexual without their permission. It is a very serious crime.
Fourth-grade girls -: Fourth-grade girls are girls who are studying in the fourth grade, which means they are usually around 9 or 10 years old.
Tear gas -: Tear gas is a gas that makes people’s eyes water and causes pain, used by police to control crowds.
Lathi-charge -: Lathi-charge is when police use long sticks called lathis to push back or control a crowd.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus -: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is a very famous and busy train station in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Ambernath -: Ambernath is a town in the Thane district of Maharashtra, and it has its own railway station.
Kasara -: Kasara is a town in Maharashtra, and it is known for its railway station which is a part of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network.