Mumbai Monorail Breakdowns Leave 700+ Passengers Stranded Amid Heavy Rain
The Incidents
Two monorail trains broke down in Mumbai on Tuesday evening during heavy rain, leaving more than 700 passengers stranded. Rescue operations were launched after the trains came to a halt, one near Mysore Colony in Chembur and the other between Acharya Atre and Wadala Monorail Station.
First Breakdown: Chembur
The first incident involved a monorail carrying 582 passengers that stopped between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park.
Cause: According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the train exceeded its design capacity of 104 tons due to overcrowding, leading to a power supply failure.
Impact: The power breakdown caused the air-conditioning to stop, leaving many passengers feeling suffocated.
Rescue: Police, fire brigade teams, and engineers reached the site. Three hydraulic ladders were used to evacuate passengers through broken windows. While 23 passengers reported breathing issues, most were treated on the spot, and a few were taken to hospitals.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said the overcrowding happened because of the closure of the Harbour Line, which pushed more commuters onto the monorail. CM Devendra Fadnavis assured a full inquiry into the breakdown.
Second Breakdown: Wadala
An hour later, another monorail with around 200 passengers stopped between Acharya Atre and Wadala.
Rescue: The train was towed back to Wadala station, where all passengers were safely evacuated.
Passenger Accounts
Many passengers said suffocation was the biggest problem.
Senior citizens and children reportedly struggled the most.
One commuter claimed the train carried nearly 500 passengers and that the rescue began only an hour after the breakdown.
Mumbai Rains
The breakdowns occurred amid heavy rainfall that has disrupted life in Mumbai for two days. Flooded roads left commuters stranded and vehicles stuck in waterlogged areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for very heavy rainfall in Mumbai on Wednesday, highlighting the city’s yearly struggle with monsoon flooding.
