Torrential rains brought Mumbai’s Monorail to a standstill on Tuesday evening, leaving 782 passengers stranded on two overcrowded trains, with some gripped by panic and contemplating jumping from elevated tracks. The Mumbai Fire Brigade executed a daring rescue operation, evacuating all passengers safely while averting a potential tragedy, officials reported.

The crisis unfolded around 6:30 pm when one Monorail train halted near Mysore Colony, tilting precariously, and another stopped near Wadala Bridge. With suburban train services crippled by heavy rainfall, commuters had flocked to the Monorail, overwhelming its capacity. Power and air-conditioning failures led to suffocation, with over a dozen passengers experiencing distress and two reportedly fainting. One woman was hospitalized but is stable.

Fire Brigade Chief Ravindra Ambulgekar, leading the operation, described the scene: “Some passengers were so scared they considered jumping. We placed jumping sheets below the tracks and deployed officers to calm them.” The team broke open windows and forced doors to evacuate 582 passengers from the Mysore Colony train using snorkel ladders, prioritizing women and seniors. Another 200 were towed back to Wadala station.

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Drawing from a 2021 Monorail rescue marred by a fire, the brigade ensured robust precautions, deploying fire engines, ambulances, and aerial ladders. “Our clear plan and coordination prevented panic from escalating,” Ambulgekar said, crediting support from civic authorities. Of the 582 rescued from Mysore Colony, 23 received immediate treatment for suffocation and were discharged, while Kismat Kumar (20) and Vivek Sonavane (28) were treated at Sion Hospital and reported stable.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) confirmed the operation’s success, highlighting the brigade’s swift response amid chaotic conditions caused by Mumbai’s ongoing heavy rainfall.

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