Nearly 800 Evacuated From 2 Mumbai Monorail Trains Stuck Amid Heavy Rain

Two monorail trains broke down in Mumbai this evening amid heavy rain, stranding hundreds of passengers. All 782 passengers have been rescued. In the first incident, a monorail train - with 582 passengers - got stuck between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park in central Mumbai's Chembur at 6.38 pm after a power supply issue due to "overcrowding", said the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

Nearly an hour later, another monorail train - with 200 passengers - came to an abrupt halt between Acharya Atre and Wadala Mono Rail Station at 7.33 pm. The passengers were evacuated after the train was towed back to the nearby Wadala station.

The MMRDA, which operates the monorail, said the train (which got stuck at 6.38 pm) "exceeded its original design capacity of 104 tons" due to overcrowding, which led to the 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. The passengers were rescued in batches in a three-hour-long operation.

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.

Several visuals showed scared passengers trying to break open the windows of the train before the fire brigade officials began the rescue operation.

The rescued passengers said panic prevailed inside the train, with several complaining of suffocation as the AC system shut down.

Authorities said 23 "suffocated passengers" were treated in an on-site ambulance and discharged. Two passengers were sent to Sion Hospital for treatment.

"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 was not a one-off incident. In August 2024, a monorail train suddenly got stuck mid-journey. Then, a few months ago, a monorail train with several school children came to a halt all of a sudden due to a technical problem.

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.