Monorail Breaks Down in Mumbai, 200 Passengers Rescued Amid Heavy Rain

Mumbai, India - Heavy rains on Tuesday worsened Mumbai’s already challenging situation as a monorail train broke down and got stuck between Chembur and Bhakti Park stations. Over 200 passengers were stranded, but thanks to swift rescue operations, all were safely evacuated.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the public that all passengers would be rescued safely and an inquiry would 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.

He urged people not to worry. “No one should worry or panic as all passengers will be safely evacuated,” he added. Fadnavis also appealed for patience and said he was in constant contact with officials. “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.

Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani confirmed that around 200 passengers were inside the train. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde explained that the monorail was overcrowded because local train services were suspended due to waterlogging caused by the ongoing heavy rains. “In one coach there were around 70-75 people which led to overcrowding of the coach,” he said. He explained that the passenger overload caused the monorail to tilt to one side, leading to a technical problem which is being investigated.

“I have asked the BMC chief to conduct medical checks for every passenger and ensure they reach home safely,” Shinde added. He also urged citizens to stay indoors unless it was an emergency, citing the red alert issued for Mumbai and surrounding areas.

Rescue operations were immediately deployed. Teams from the BMC, the fire department, and the police worked to evacuate passengers safely. Video footage showed emergency personnel at the site helping passengers out of the stranded train. Authorities ensured that the affected passengers were being taken to nearby hospitals as a precaution.

The incident comes amid record rainfall in Mumbai over the past 24 hours, which has caused flooding, disruption of local trains, and traffic snarls across the city. The monorail breakdown added to commuters’ troubles, highlighting the impact of severe weather on public transport. Authorities said all possible measures were being taken to safely evacuate passengers and investigate the cause of the technical failure.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is responsible for the monorail system, which is a crucial part of the city’s public transport network. The breakdown underscores the need for robust maintenance and emergency response systems to ensure the safety and reliability of public transportation, especially during extreme weather conditions.