after a 30-hour disruption caused by a major accident during the construction of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train corridor, rail traffic on one of India’s busiest railway routes has now resumed , officials confirmed early Tuesday.
The incident occurred late Sunday night at Vatva Ropar Bridge, where a segmental launching gantry crane, used for placing concrete girders on the pillars, lost balance and collapsed. The accident severely damaged the railway track and overhead electric lines, halting train operations on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai line.
High-Speed Rail Project Crane Collapses During Construction
The crane, weighing nearly 600 tons, was being used as part of the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) project. The segmental launching gantry had just placed a span and was retracting when it lost stability and fell onto the adjacent railway infrastructure.
Fortunately, a major disaster was averted as the Tejas Express had passed the site just 15 minutes earlier, and a freight train waiting for a signal was yet to receive clearance. If the signal had been given, the consequences could have been catastrophic.
300 Workers, Multiple Cranes Used in Round-the-Clock Recovery Effort
NHSRCL, in collaboration with the Western Railway’s Ahmedabad Division, deployed 300 personnel to remove the collapsed crane and restore the site. The rescue operation involved multiple high-capacity cranes, including a 750-ton, two 500-ton, and one 130-ton crane. Debris was successfully cleared late Monday night, paving the way for infrastructure repair.
By early Tuesday morning, railway engineers completed repairs to the damaged track and the overhead electrification system. Train movement between Ahmedabad and Mumbai was officially restored at 6:00 AM, bringing relief to thousands of passengers affected by the disruption.
28 Trains Cancelled, Services Back on Track
Due to the accident, 28 trains scheduled to depart from or arrive in Ahmedabad on Monday were fully cancelled. Authorities prioritized safety throughout the recovery effort, ensuring the integrity of rail operations before resuming services.
The quick response and seamless coordination between agencies demonstrate India’s growing efficiency in handling high-risk infrastructure incidents. With train services back on track, passengers can now expect normal operations on the route once again.