Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Bird Strike, Wheel-System Snag Disrupt Mumbai and Vande Bharat Services
A bird got caught in a part of a local train called a pantograph.
The pantograph connects the train to overhead electricity equipment.
This happened as the train entered Kharghar station in Mumbai.
The electrical equipment switched off, and smoke came from the train’s third unit.
Some passengers became worried, but railway workers quickly repaired the problem.
Local train movement restarted about seven minutes later, though some trains were delayed.
In a separate incident, another Vande Bharat train had a problem with its wheel system in Odisha.
That train stayed at Bisra station for about one hour and 40 minutes.
Railway officials arranged another train or other travel options for passengers.
A bird became stuck in a suburban train’s pantograph while it entered Kharghar station at 2:08 pm on Wednesday.
The contact caused overhead equipment to trip, smoke from the train’s third unit, and brief panic among commuters.
Railway staff repaired the issue, restoring Harbour line train movement around 2:15 pm, although some services were delayed.
The Harbour line primarily operates between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Panvel.
Separately, the Howrah-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express was delayed more than 1.5 hours by a wheel-system problem at Bisra station.
- Who
- Mumbai Harbour line commuters, railway staff, Central Railway officials, and passengers on the Howrah-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express were affected.
- What
- A bird stuck in a Harbour line train’s pantograph caused an overhead-equipment trip, while a separate wheel-system problem delayed the Howrah-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express.
- When
- The Kharghar incident occurred at 2:08 pm on Wednesday, August 26, with services resuming around 2:15 pm. The Vande Bharat train remained delayed for about one hour and 40 minutes.
- Where
- The first incident occurred at Kharghar railway station on Mumbai’s Harbour line; the second occurred at Bisra station in Odisha’s Chakradharpur division.
- Why
- The Harbour line disruption was caused by a bird coming into contact with the pantograph. The Vande Bharat delay was caused by a technical problem in its wheel system.
- Harbour line incident
- A bird became stuck in a train’s pantograph at Kharghar station.
- Incident time
- 2:08 pm on Wednesday, August 26
- Harbour line service restoration
- Train movement resumed around 2:15 pm.
- Passenger impact
- Smoke caused brief panic, and some Harbour line trains were delayed.
- Harbour line route
- The line primarily connects Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Panvel.
- Vande Bharat delay
- The Howrah-Rourkela Vande Bharat Express was delayed by more than 1.5 hours.
- Alternative arrangements
- South Eastern Railway arranged a separate rake and offered passengers special-train or passenger-service options.
