Mumbai Rains: 782 Passengers Rescued After Monorail Gets Stuck on Elevated Track

Heavy rains threw Mumbai’s transport system into chaos on Tuesday evening when two crowded monorail trains got stuck on elevated tracks, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded in suffocating conditions. Panic gripped many commuters as the AC units inside the coaches stopped working, with some even preparing to jump down before rescue teams intervened.

Panic Among Passengers

The incident occurred between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park as well as near Wadala Bridge, where the monorail trains halted due to a power supply failure triggered by torrential rains. Witnesses said the situation quickly escalated inside the packed compartments, with more than a dozen passengers fainting due to suffocation. Fire officials said that jumping sheets were laid on the ground as a precautionary measure in case passengers attempted to leap from the elevated track.

Rescue Operation

Mumbai Fire Brigade Chief Ravindra Ambulgekar said the rescue was “bold and carefully coordinated.”

• 582 passengers were evacuated using snorkel ladders from the Mysore Colony section.

• Around 200 passengers were rescued after the second train was towed to Wadala station.

• Firefighters broke windows and forced open doors to help people exit. Women, children, and senior citizens were rescued first, followed by others.

By late night, 782 passengers had been evacuated safely. Ambulgekar confirmed that one passenger was admitted to hospital but is stable, while 23 others showed signs of suffocation and were treated on the spot by BMC medical teams.

Commuters Caught Between Disruptions

With Harbour Line suburban train services already disrupted due to flooding, many passengers had opted for the monorail as an alternative. Unfortunately, the breakdown during peak hours worsened the ordeal for commuters.

Officials said prior experience in similar rescue operations helped fire teams respond swiftly, preventing the panic from turning into tragedy.