The Mumbai monorail broke down between Chembur and Bhakti Park.
- The monorail got stuck after a power supply issue due to "overcrowding", said the MMRDA
- "The uncontrolled crowding could not be prevented because of unusually high passenger numbers," the MMRDA said
- The train came to a halt around 6:38 pm between Chembur and Bhakti Park in central Mumbai
A monorail train broke down in Mumbai this evening amid heavy rain, stranding hundreds of passengers for nearly three hours. All 582 passengers have been rescued. The monorail rake, which runs on an elevated track, got stuck between Chembur and Bhakti Park in central Mumbai at 6.38 pm after a power supply issue due to "overcrowding", said the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
The MMRDA, which operates the monorail, said the train "exceeded its original design capacity of 104 tons" due to overcrowding, which led to disruption of the power supply.
"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," it said in a statement.
Mumbai is the only city to operate a Monorail System that runs at an average speed of 65 km per hour. Each coach has a capacity of 18 sitting passengers and 124 standing passengers.
The MMRDA said another monorail was also sent to tow the stalled one to the nearest station. "However, because the stalled monorail was overloaded, it could not be pulled. Therefore, the fire brigade had to carry out the rescue operation," it said.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that due to overcrowding, a section of the train got tilted. "Due to the closure of the Harbour line, many passengers were diverted towards the monorail. Due to the overcrowding, it tilted and there was also a power failure," he told NDTV.
The MMRDA said the "uncontrolled crowding could not be prevented because of the unusually high passenger numbers".
It emphasised that the Mumbai Monorail is a limited-capacity public transport system designed for specific routes, and is not built to handle the sudden surge of heavy crowds like traditional suburban trains or the metro system.
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Several visuals showed scared passengers trying to break open the windows of the train before the fire brigade officials began the rescue operation. The passengers were rescued in batches in a three-hour-long operation.
The rescued passengers said panic prevailed inside the train, with several complaining of suffocation as the AC system shut down.
Authorities said 14 "suffocated passengers" were treated in an on-site ambulance and discharged. One 20-year-old woman passenger was sent to Sion Hospital. She is in stable condition, officials said.
"Don't Panic"
Urging people not to worry, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that all "passengers will be safely evacuated". He said that an inquiry will also be conducted into the incident.
"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 posted on X.
His deputy, Mr Shinde, said the government's priority right now is to rescue all passengers.
"Our priority right now is to rescue all passengers. There are nearly 200 passengers stuck inside. Our medical team is also on the spot. I urge the passengers not to panic," said Mr Shinde.
Civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that the fire brigade rushed to the spot as soon as they got a call for assistance.
"In the emergency situation, passengers immediately contacted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's helpline number 1916 for assistance," said the BMC.
"Responding promptly, the Mumbai Fire Brigade rushed to the spot and began rescue operations with the help of three snorkel vehicles," it added.
This is not the first such incident. In August 2024, a monorail train suddenly got stuck mid-journey. Due to this, the passengers sitting inside got upset.
A few months ago, a monorail train came to a halt all of a sudden due to a technical problem while several school children were travelling on it.
This comes as the city has been hit by rain for the last two days, disrupting normal life.
The heavy downpour flooded streets, stranded commuters and vehicles struggling to navigate the inundated roads. The situation highlighted the financial capital's annual challenge in dealing with the monsoon rains.
"Mumbai has witnessed a record rainfall of nearly 300 mm. The city's lifeline -- suburban trains -- has slowed down. The Mithi river (which runs through Mumbai) reached the danger-level mark and 400 to 500 persons had to be evacuated," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said after the weekly cabinet meeting.
On Monday, the metropolis received 170 mm of rainfall in just 8 hours.
