Mumbai rain: Netas get a taste of aam aadmi's woes, forced to alight from trains, trudge on flooded tracks

MUMBAI: The city's lifeline, its local train, can be a great leveller. MLAs and ministers, just like the common man, were hit hard by the heavy downpour that led to disruption of services of suburban and long-distance trains Monday morning.
Close to 10-15 legislators from both Houses of the state legislature were stranded in trains before Kurla and Thane.Some of them had to walk on tracks to reach Kurla station to try and reach south Mumbai, in time for the assembly session. Relief & Rehabilitation minister Anil Patil legged it for 2 km on waterlogged tracks.
The opposition slammed netas for walking on tracks when common people are told not to especially on waterlogged tracks. In a post on X, NCP (SP) functionary Clyde Crasto said: "Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav, RPF. Isn't it illegal to walk and trespass on the railway tracks? Whatever may be the circumstances, public representatives, just like any other citizens, are supposed to obey the law and also set an example. What action do you propose to take after seeing this video?".
Minister Anil Patil said he got the experience of crossing tracks for the first time in rainwater. He said he has told railway authorities not to halt passenger trains between stations. "I've learnt that passenger trains must not stop between stations," Patil said. "If trains stop between stations, people get off and walk... There is a chance of them falling into a drain and there is a big risk."
Videos of legislators hotfooting it on the tracks, with their PAs lugging their bags, went viral on social media. Bodyguards were also seen in tow. NCP (Ajit) MLC Amol Mitkari filmed the walk, videos of which went viral. Most MLAs were on their way to Mumbai from Vidarbha and Marathwada. Stranded between Dadar and Kurla stations, he said 10 other MLAs kept him company. "This is a different experience... Common man has been hit by the rains," he said in the video.
Minister Hasan Mushriff from NCP (Ajit Pawar) got off from Mahalaxmi Express at Kalyan and took a car to reach Vidhan Bhavan. Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad said, "We were told there are massive traffic snarls. So, some MLAs stayed on the train, others walked."