Mumbai rains: Monorail breaks down near Mysore Colony, passengers stranded for hours

MUMBAI: Heavy rainfall continued to batter Mumbai for the third straight day, causing widespread disruptions across the city, including a major breakdown of the monorail service. A monorail train came to a standstill near Mysore Colony station after a power failure that lasted nearly three hours, leaving passengers stranded mid-track.

Fire and rescue personnel rushed to the scene and began evacuating commuters using cranes. Despite efforts to tow the stalled coaches to the nearest station using ropes, the attempt failed as the brakes had jammed. Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) Joint Commissioner Astik Pandey confirmed the challenges involved in the operation.

The monorail weighs around 109 metric tons. Due to flooding on major roads, there was heavy crowding, which also added strain and led to a technical failure. The emergency braking system had automatically activated, causing the brakes to jam.

Following the incident, monorail services between Chembur and Bhakti Park were suspended from 6:15 PM onwards. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a detailed investigation into the matter.

The city has recorded over 54 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours alone, with eastern and western suburbs receiving 72 mm and 65 mm respectively. Key transportation services, including roads, railways, and airports, have been severely impacted.

With more heavy rain forecast, the India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Mumbai and surrounding districts, including Raigad, Ratnagiri, Satara, Kolhapur, and Pune. In light of the situation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced a holiday for all schools and colleges.