Mumbai monorail with 200 passengers breaks down amid heavy rain; rescue ops on
Rescue teams broke windowpanes and used cranes, ladders and scissor lifts to evacuate commuters after a packed train lost power between Chembur and Bhakti Park
Passengers were being rescued by breaking the windowpanes of a Mumbai monorail that remained stranded for nearly two hours, and counting, after losing power supply during heavy rain around 8.30 pm on Tuesday (August 19).
Rescuers initially attempted to tow the four-coach monorail, stranded on a curve several feet above the ground near Mysore Colony, to the nearest station using another train, but its brakes remained jammed, officials told Hindustan Times. They then deployed truck-mounted scissor lifts, along with cranes and ladders, to evacuate passengers.
Astik Pandey, joint commissioner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, said the train was loaded beyond capacity. “The capacity of the monorail is 109 metric tonnes. On Tuesday, it was overloaded due to excessive crowds. On a curve, there was a mechanical disconnect of electric current. After that, emergency brake was deployed, hence the rake stopped working,” he said.
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The monorail service broke down between Chembur and Bhakti Park around 6.15 pm as passengers contacted the BMC’s emergency number 1916 for immediate help. The fire brigade started relief work soon after with the help of three snorkel vehicles. Four buses were deployed to send passengers home once rescued.
CM assures safety of passengers
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said all the passengers inside a monorail train stuck between two stations in Mumbai will be rescued safely, and an inquiry will be conducted into the incident.
"Due to some technical reason, a Monorail is stuck between Chembur and Bhakti Park. MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority), the fire brigade, and the municipal corporation, all agencies have reached the spot. The highest priority is being given to the safety of all passengers," Fadnavis posted on X.
No one should worry or panic as all passengers will be safely evacuated, he assured. "I request everyone to remain patient. I am in contact with the MMRDA Commissioner, the Municipal Commissioner, the police, and all relevant agencies. An inquiry will also be conducted into why this incident occurred," he said.
As per municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, there were around 200 passengers inside the train.