Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 20: A major tragedy was averted in Mumbai on Tuesday evening after two overcrowded Monorail trains got stranded on elevated tracks during heavy downpour, leaving 782 passengers trapped mid-air in a harrowing ordeal.
According to officials, panic-stricken commuters — many gasping for breath inside the stalled coaches — were so terrified that some even contemplated jumping off to the ground below. Anticipating the worst, the fire brigade spread out jumping sheets at the site to prevent casualties.
The incident occurred around 6.30 pm when one Monorail halted near Mysore Colony, reportedly tilting to one side, while another came to a standstill close to Wadala Bridge. With Harbour line suburban trains crippled by torrential rains, hundreds had turned to the Monorail service, worsening the crowding.
Mumbai Fire Brigade Chief Ravindra Ambulgekar, who personally supervised the dramatic rescue, said his team acted swiftly and calmly to avert chaos. “People were scared, some even ready to jump. Our priority was to prevent panic from turning into tragedy. We broke windows, forced open doors and evacuated passengers systematically, beginning with women and senior citizens,” he explained.
Rescue teams deployed aerial snorkel ladders and towed one of the stranded trains back to Wadala station, freeing 200 commuters. Another 582 passengers were carefully evacuated near Mysore Colony. More than a dozen commuters complained of suffocation due to lack of ventilation after power and air-conditioning failed, with one woman hospitalised. Her condition is reported stable.
Recalling a previous mishap, Ambulgekar stressed that all safety measures were taken this time. “We remembered the fire incident during the last Monorail rescue. This time, every precaution was in place. The crowd panicked, but our presence and a clear plan made all the difference,” he said, lauding his team’s coordination and courage.
By late night, the operation concluded with all 782 passengers rescued safely. While several were left shaken by the experience, authorities hailed the daring and timely intervention of the fire brigade for averting what could have been a disastrous tragedy on Mumbai’s elevated tracks.