Three people were found dead on railway tracks amid the disruption, as frustrated passengers climbed down from stationary trains and walked towards nearby stations.

Two bodies were found along the Ghatkopar-Vikhroli stretch, while another person was found dead in Bhandup. The two victims found near Ghatkopar and Vikhroli were taken to Rajawadi Hospital.

The disruption began around 10 am after a fire broke out near Kanjurmarg station, damaging the signalling system between Thane and Vikhroli.

A technical problem involving an overhead wire between Mulund and Thane had also occurred earlier, further aggravating the situation.

Commuters stranded for hours

The signalling failure affected both slow and fast trains on the up and down lines, disrupting services across a crucial section of Mumbai's suburban railway network.

Office-goers travelling on the first working day of the week were left stranded at stations and inside stationary trains as services came to a standstill.

With no trains moving for hours, several passengers climbed onto the tracks and began walking towards the next station, exposing themselves to serious danger.

Railway officials subsequently appealed to commuters not to walk on the tracks, warning them against the risks associated with the practice.

Repairs underway, services gradually restored

Railway authorities launched repair operations following the fire and signalling failure. Officials indicated that replacing damaged cables could take around four hours, raising concerns that normal services might not resume until late at night.

By Monday evening, officials confirmed that three of the four affected train lines had been restored. Commuters were urged to remain off the tracks as restoration work continued.

Traffic snarls add to Mumbai's woes

The railway disruption also spilled over onto the city's roads, with heavy congestion reported on the Eastern Express Highway. Vehicles crawled through long queues as commuters sought alternative ways to reach their destinations.

The disruption came a day after the Central Railway had undertaken a scheduled mega block for maintenance, prompting frustrated passengers to question how such a major technical failure could occur immediately after the planned maintenance shutdown.

The incident once again highlighted the challenges faced by Mumbai's heavily relied-upon suburban railway network, which carries millions of passengers daily.