Video: Mumbai Monorail Stuck, Personnel Break Windows To Rescue Passengers

A rake of the Mumbai monorail tilted, lost power and got stuck, leaving 442 passengers stranded. All the passengers were rescued in batches in a nearly three-hour operation. The monorail broke down on an elevated corridor and the fire brigade employed three hydraulic ladders, with personnel breaking windows to rescue passengers.

The monorail got stuck at 6.38 pm on Tuesday between the Chembur and Bhakti Park stations in central Mumbai and videos shot from inside the rake showed passengers fanning themselves and trying to break windows because of a lack of ventilation. The rescue was completed around 9.30 pm. Live updates here

After being rescued, some of the passengers, who complained of suffocation, were also given treatment.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Teams of BMC, fire department and police are engaged in rescuing passengers from the Monorail that got stuck near Mysore Colony station in Mumbai due to a power supply issue. pic.twitter.com/vwjK1pBkCI

— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2025

Videos of the rescue showed personnel climbing into the rake through the broken windows and then helping passengers onto the platforms of the ladders to get them down to safety. 

Speaking to NDTV while the rescue was on, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said there is no reason to panic and all the passengers are out of danger. 

"Over 150 passengers have been rescued. Three snorkels are being used. There were more passengers in the monorail than its capacity because the Harbour line of the local train network was shut due to heavy rain. The rake got tilted and there was a power breakdown, which caused it to stall. Our priority is the rescue of the passengers and I have asked the BMC commissioner to expedite this," Mr Shinde said.

"Medical aid is being provided and ambulances are also present at the spot. I appeal to the passengers not to panic and remain patient. I have also spoken to one of the passengers. An inquiry will be conducted later, but our priority is the rescue everyone... The emergency system should have worked, the government will look into this as well," he added.

One of the passengers said he was rescued after the window was broken.

"It was very hot inside. The elderly and children are facing a lot of difficulties. Some people were feeling suffocated and they are being taken away in ambulances. I am grateful to God that I got saved," he said.

In a statement later, the MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) which operates the monorail said overcrowding caused a disruption of the power supply, stalling the train.

"Today, the monorail running between Bhakti Park and Chembur broke down near Mysore Colony station on the RST-4 route. A preliminary investigation revealed that due to overcrowding, the total weight of the monorail had risen to about 109 metric tons, which exceeded its original design capacity of 104 tons. This excess weight caused a mechanical disconnection between the power rail and the current collector, leading to disruption of the power supply essential for the monorail's operation. As a result, the monorail came to a halt," the MMRDA said.