Rail Disruption in Mumbai Monorail: 400 Travelers Extracted, Some Experience Suffocation; Fadnavis Demands Investigation - VIDEO RECORDING
On August 19, 2025, a breakdown on the Mumbai Monorail left around 400 passengers stranded between Mysore Colony station and their destination. The incident occurred during heavy rainfall, when Harbour Line train services were disrupted, causing a surge in passengers seeking alternative transportation.
Investigations into the incident revealed that overcrowding was the primary cause of the breakdown. The monorail train exceeded its design capacity, leading to a power supply failure and subsequent mechanical issues that caused the train to abruptly stop mid-route.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has suspended two senior officials, the Chief Engineer (Signal & Telecom) and the Manager, Security, due to lapses identified in the initial probe. A high-powered inquiry committee has been formed to conduct a comprehensive investigation and recommend corrective measures for operational safety.
Rescue operations were successfully carried out, with firefighting teams and medical assistance involved. A total of 582 passengers were evacuated after about 3.5 hours, while 14 passengers who complained of suffocation were treated on the spot by doctors from the 108 ambulance team. One passenger was shifted to Sion Hospital, where a 20-year-old woman was reported to be stable. Two more passengers were admitted to KEM Hospital after complaining of suffocation.
The MMRDA has ordered a technical inquiry to prevent such incidents in the future. The overcrowding resulted from the total weight of the monorail exceeding its limit of 104 tonnes, due to the excess number of passengers. The stranded rake could not be towed due to its excess weight, forcing emergency services to conduct a manual rescue.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a probe into the incident, and the MMRDA, along with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other agencies, is working to restore services. Fadnavis assured the safety of all passengers and stated that they would be safely evacuated.
The MMRDA has emphasised the importance of adhering to the system's designed capacity to ensure the safety of passengers and prevent future breakdowns. Accountability actions and further investigations are ongoing to ensure the safety and reliability of the Mumbai Monorail system.
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