Mumbai, Aug 19 (NationPress) All 582 passengers who found themselves stranded on the Mumbai Monorail near Mysore Colony between Chembur and Bhakti Park were successfully rescued by the Mumbai Fire Brigade of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) using snorkel (ladder) vehicles on Tuesday.

The rescue operation concluded successfully, as reported by the BMC.

A technical issue halted the monorail service between Chembur and Bhakti Park around 6:15 p.m. Passengers aboard contacted the BMC's helpline number 1916 for urgent help during this critical situation. A medical team from the municipal corporation was on-site with ambulances, tending to six individuals who experienced discomfort and providing them treatment before they were sent home.

“Buses from BEST (Bombay Electric Supply and Transport) were arranged to assist the rescued passengers. They were transported via these buses. Under the direction of Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani, Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr Ashwini Joshi and Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr Amit Saini were present to supervise the relief operations and expedite the process,” stated BMC in a post on X.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) disclosed that a Monorail train (RST-4) stalled between Bhakti Park and Chembur, near Mysore Colony station. Preliminary investigations indicated that due to overcrowding, the total weight of the train reached approximately 109 metric tonnes, surpassing its designed capacity of 104 metric tonnes. This excess weight interrupted the mechanical contact between the power rail and the current collector, leading to a loss of electricity essential for operating the train,” it added.

MMRDA immediately dispatched a team of technicians to the area and, adhering to the SOP, deployed another monorail to tow the stalled train. Generally, the stalled train is towed to the nearest station in such instances. However, due to the excess weight, towing was not feasible, necessitating a rescue operation conducted by the Fire Brigade.

“The overcrowding was caused by the closure of the Indian Railways Harbour Line due to heavy rainfall in Mumbai. Despite multiple attempts by security personnel to manage boarding and prevent excessive crowding, the surge in commuter demand overwhelmed the system,” noted MMRDA.

Furthermore, MMRDA stated, “It is crucial to recognize that the Mumbai Monorail is a low-capacity transit system, designed for specific corridors and not equipped to handle sudden high-volume loads like suburban railways or metro systems. MMRDA is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure journey on its Metro and Monorail systems. Today’s incident primarily stemmed from overcrowding. We urge all commuters to adhere to the instructions of the security and technical teams deployed to facilitate smooth operations during emergencies.”

MMRDA is actively coordinating with BMC and emergency services to assist passengers, deboard affected commuters safely, and restore power and operations as quickly as possible. Immediate corrective measures are being implemented, and a comprehensive technical review is underway to prevent future occurrences.

Earlier, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted on X, “Due to a technical issue, a monorail is stuck between Chembur and Bhakti Park. All agencies, including MMRDA, the fire brigade, and BMC, are on-site. The utmost priority is the safety of all passengers. There’s no need to worry or panic. All passengers will be evacuated safely. I ask everyone to remain patient. I am in contact with the MMRDA Commissioner, the Municipal Commissioner, the police, and all relevant agencies. An investigation will also be carried out to determine the cause of this incident.”

Deputy Chief Minister and MMRDA chairman Eknath Shinde communicated with the passengers stuck in the Monorail, reassuring them not to panic. He also instructed the BMC, the Mumbai fire brigade, and MMRDA to carry out the rescue operation.