The strike that crippled Mumbai

Empty train stations, commuters spilling onto roads, huge traffic jams – the strike by motormen in Mumbai that brought the city to a standstill ended on Tuesday after a meeting with the Home Minister RR Patil.

On Monday evening, commuters on their way home found themselves stranded after motormen decided they were done for the day. All trains from Churchgate were cancelled for more than an hour. The Western and Central lines were paralysed.

However, despite the paralysis, commuters in different parts of the city expressed their support for motormen, agreeing that they should be granted the better pay and facilities that they're demanding.

Hours before that, the government had asked offices in the city to shut down early, but that didn't help ease either traffic or tension. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

Despite deploying additional services, the buses were unable to ferry all the stranded commuters home. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

Cops were deployed in large numbers by The Railways Ministry outside Mumbai Central station on Monday night to maintain law and order. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

Commuters at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus were hanging on to the engine and even travelled on rooftops. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

With the railway platforms packed with stranded commuters, several passengers were left sardined on the bridges. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

Many long-distance trains were stopping at some suburban stations to help out stranded passengers. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

Policemen were on guard to prevent chaos among train commuters. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

Without the fear of being run over by any local train, a passenger sleeps on the railway track. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

Commuters at Marine Lines station. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

On Monday evening, passengers kept waiting for their ride. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

The passengers' wait was in vain as there were no trains. All trains from Churchgate were cancelled for more than an hour. The Western and Central lines were paralysed. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

More than 65 lakh commuters have been affected by the Motormen strike. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

The 3.15 am Kalyan-bound train at Currey Road. (Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com)

Only 15% of Mumbai local trains were running on Tuesday. The government asked commutes to use trains only if absolutely necessary. (NDTV Photo)

An empty Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus on the second day of the Motormen strike. The Civic Headquarters at CST said 90% of its employees skipped work on Tuesday. (NDTV Photo)

A number of passengers were stranded at the CST platform after midnight, as the motormen's strike meant they could not go home. (NDTV Photo)

The city also witnessed heavy traffic jams specifically on the Eastern Express Highway between Chembur and Sion. (NDTV Photo)

Mumbai's local train network is considered as the city's lifeline and its disruption had virtually crippled the city, causing a large-scale chaos. (NDTV Photo)