Mumbai Monorail Breaks Down Amid Rains, Stranded Passengers Evacuated From Windows Using Cranes

Mumbai Monorail Breaks Down Amid Rains, Stranded Passengers Evacuated From Windows Using Cranes

A monorail service in Mumbai came to a halt near Mysore Colony station on Tuesday after it faced a power supply problem, leaving passengers trapped inside for over an hour, reportedly without air conditioning. Authorities said, “One Monorail train near Mysore Colony station has experienced a minor power supply issue. Our operations and maintenance teams are already on-site and working to resolve it quickly.

Videos shared by news agency ANI showed passengers being rescued from the monorail’s window using cranes. 

They were evacuated by firefighters with police and ambulance teams on site, news agency IANS reported.

“Teams of the fire department and police are engaged in the rescue. The rescue operation is underway,” BMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Amit Saini told ANI.

A passenger identified as Sunil said, “I was in the train from 5:30 PM. The rescue operation started after 1 hour. There were at least 500 passengers in the train. This train arrived after a gap of 30 minutes, so the entire train was overloaded with passengers.”

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a probe into the incident. “Due to some technical reason, a monorail is stuck between Chembur and Bhakti Park. MMRDA, 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. Therefore, no one should worry or panic. All passengers will be safely evacuated. 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 wrote on X.

Mumbai Monorail: Overcrowding Blamed For Power Disruption

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) blamed overcrowding for the incident. “Today, a Monorail train (RST-4) stalled between Bhakti Park and Chembur, near Mysore Colony station. Preliminary checks revealed that due to overcrowding, the total weight of the train rose to around 109 metric tonnes, which exceeded its designed capacity of 104 metric tonnes. This excess weight caused a break in the mechanical contact between the power rail and the current collector, cutting off the electricity supply required to run the train,” it stated.

“The overcrowding was triggered by the closure of the Indian Railways Harbour Line owing to heavy rainfall in Mumbai… MMRDA is actively coordinating with BMC and emergency services to provide passenger assistance, deboard affected commuters safely, and restore power and operations at the earliest. Immediate corrective actions are underway, and a detailed technical review is being conducted to prevent recurrence,” it added.

Mumbai Rains: City Reels Under Record Rainfall

Mumbai was pounded by relentless rain for the second consecutive day, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirming nearly 300 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours. The downpour disrupted suburban train services, stranded commuters, and brought road and air traffic to a crawl.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said around 400–500 residents had to be evacuated after the rising Mithi river crossed the danger mark. The Central Railway suspended suburban operations between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Thane, and also on the harbour line between CSMT and Kurla as tracks were submerged in water.

At some locations such as Sion and Kurla, water rose up to eight inches above the tracks, forcing the suspension of services. Long-distance trains were rescheduled or cancelled, with help desks set up at major stations to guide passengers.

Mumbai Rains: 8 Flights Diverted, Schools Shut

The downpour also impacted air traffic. Officials said at least eight flights were diverted to other cities, including Surat, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. Airlines warned passengers about delays as low-visibility procedures were intermittently enforced at Mumbai airport.

Educational institutions and government offices remained closed due to the conditions. Even the Bombay High Court curtailed its functioning to 12:30 pm. The Directorate of Higher Education also declared a holiday for all senior colleges across Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.

Mumbai Rains: NDRF and Civic Agencies on Rescue Duty

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed in Kurla and Kranti Nagar to carry out rescue efforts. In Powai, an NDRF team pulled a man to safety after he was swept away in the Mithi river.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said 525 pumps, 10 mini pumping stations, and six major pumping stations were working round the clock to drain waterlogged areas. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the city recorded 37 per cent of its average August rainfall in just 54 hours.

According to BMC data, the western suburbs bore the brunt, with Chincholi fire station recording 361 mm of rain, Kandivali 337 mm, and Dindoshi 305 mm between Monday and Tuesday morning. In south Mumbai, Dadar and Wadala registered around 300 mm of rainfall during the same period.

Doonited Affiliated: Syndicate News Hunt

This report has been published as part of an auto-generated syndicated wire feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been modified or edited by Doonited

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