Key points
- Monorail halted mid-air near Mysore Colony due to a power supply disruption; around 150 passengers were trapped.
- Crane-assisted rescue launched; fire brigade, MMRDA, BMC, and police on site; evacuation underway with safety priority.
- Single-line service maintained between Wadala and Chembur; authorities working to restore full normalcy.
- CM Devendra Fadnavis: All passengers will be evacuated safely; cause to be investigated.
- Similar outages occurred in 2015 and 2019, highlighting recurring power/technical vulnerabilities.
Mumbai: Continuous heavy rain disrupted normal life across Mumbai, and a monorail rake came to a halt between Chembur and Bhakti Park, reportedly near Mysore Colony station, following a power supply issue. With the train stranded on the elevated guideway, about 150 passengers were initially trapped in the coaches. Authorities initiated a coordinated rescue, deploying a crane to enable a safe, phased evacuation.
On-ground response and status
- Rescue ops: Fire brigade teams, along with MMRDA, BMC, and Mumbai Police, coordinated a crane-led extraction. Medical support and safety marshals were positioned at ground level and on the elevated alignment to assist passengers descending from the rake.
- Passenger safety: Teams prioritized children, seniors, and those with medical needs. Drinking water and basic first aid were arranged at the site.
- Services: While the affected rake was being stabilized and cleared, operations continued on a single line between Wadala and Chembur to keep limited connectivity alive. Technical teams worked on isolating the fault and ensuring the guideway was safe for tow-back or rake removal.
- Weather factor: Persistent rain complicated access and crane positioning, slowing but not halting the evacuation sequence.
Official statements
- Metro/Monorail operator: Acknowledged a “minor power supply problem” near Mysore Colony and assured that operations and maintenance teams were on-site to rectify the issue. Safety was reiterated as the top priority, with a commitment to restore normal services at the earliest.
- CM Devendra Fadnavis: Confirmed the snag and said all relevant agencies reached the spot swiftly; urged calm and patience, assured that all passengers would be evacuated safely, and said the incident would be investigated to identify root causes and preventive measures.
Context: repeat incidents
The Mumbai Monorail has previously experienced mid-air halts due to power or technical glitches, notably on 15 March 2015 and 12 August 2019. Today’s disruption bears similar characteristics, underlining the need for robust redundancy in traction power supply, better weatherproofing of critical components, and rapid-response evacuation protocols.
Why it matters
- Safety and resilience: Elevated systems must maintain fail-safe evacuation methods, especially during extreme weather.
- Reliability: Recurrences erode commuter confidence; consistent incident audits and upgrades are essential.
- Operations continuity: Single-line running helps avoid a total shutdown, but long-term fixes should target full bi-directional resilience.
What to watch next
- Post-incident audit: Timeline of the snag, cause identification (feeder fault, OHE/third rail issue, substation trip, or onboard systems failure), and corrective actions.
- SOP upgrades: Evacuation drills, crane access plans, lighting, and communication for stranded rakes; better real-time passenger information.
- Infrastructure hardening: Rain ingress protection, surge protection, and redundancy in power supply along vulnerable sections.
- Service restoration: Full normalcy timeline and any planned maintenance block to replace/repair affected components.
Commuter advisory
- Check live updates before travel and expect residual delays as systems reset.
- Follow staff instructions at stations; use alternative routes if on tight timelines.
- For vulnerable commuters (elderly, children), consider off-peak travel until full services are confirmed.
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