Mumbai’s relentless downpours on Tuesday caused a major disruption as a Monorail train (RST-4) broke down and got stuck between Bhakti Park and Chembur
stations, near Mysore Colony, leaving a total of 582 passengers stranded for more than three hours.
All Passengers Rescued
Maharashtra authorities confirmed that all passengers on board the stranded Monorail train have been safely evacuated. Ravindra Ambulgekar, Chief Fire Officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade said, "A total of 582 people have been rescued. We reached here after 10 minutes and assured all the passengers that they are safe and they will be rescued safely. All the passengers are safe and the rescue operation has been completed."
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said that rescue operations were carried out promptly, with teams from the BMC, fire department, and police assisting commuters. Video footage showed emergency personnel helping passengers out of the train, and those affected were taken to nearby hospitals as a precaution.
Overcrowding Contributed To Breakdown
The MMRDA said in a statement that 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. The overcrowding was triggered by the closure of the Indian Railways Harbour Line owing to heavy rainfall in Mumbai," the MMRDA added.
CM Assures Safety and Inquiry
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that all passengers would be rescued safely and promised an inquiry 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," Fadnavis posted on X.
Mumbai Witnesses Record Rains
The Monorail incident comes amid record rainfall in Mumbai over the past 24 hours, which has caused widespread flooding, disruption of local trains, and severe traffic snarls across the city. Officials confirmed that all possible measures were being taken to ensure passenger safety and to investigate the cause of the technical failure.
(With inputs from agencies)
