Mumbai Monorail Crisis: Nearly 800 Passengers Rescued After Trains Stall Amid Heavy Rains

On August 19, 2025, two monorail trains in Mumbai stalled mid-journey during unprecedented heavy monsoon rains, trapping nearly 800 commuters for hours and sparking a major rescue operation.

The crisis unfolded as Mumbai's monsoon caused the suspension of local train services, pushing a surge of passengers onto the city's only monorail network, which operates at an average speed of 65 km/h. This overwhelming overcrowding forced the monorails beyond their design capacities, resulting in mechanical failure and power disruption.

The problematic trains were stranded between the Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park stations and between Acharya Atre and Wadala stations. Reports indicated that one coach was carrying up to 75 people — far exceeding its capacity of 142 passengers (18 seated and 124 standing) — causing the train to tilt and break down due to excess weight, estimated to be around 109 metric tons compared to the 104-ton design limit.

Passengers endured distressing conditions including sweltering heat inside sealed coaches without ventilation, breathing difficulties, dehydration, and panic. Several fainted, and more than a dozen reported suffocation symptoms, with at least one passenger admitted to the hospital in stable condition.

A multi-agency rescue team comprising the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and police was mobilized promptly. Using snorkel ladders, cranes, and other specialized equipment, they evacuated 582 passengers from one stalled monorail and 200 from the other over several hours.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde confirmed that overcrowding and the closure of the Harbor line contributed to the incident by diverting commuters to the monorail, leading to the mechanical failure. The rescue operation was challenging, with some passengers reportedly panicking and contemplating jumping from elevated tracks; safety nets were deployed as a precaution.

The Chief Minister ordered an official probe into the incident and assured citizens of safety reviews and timely resumption of services. The event has raised critical concerns about monorail capacity and infrastructure resilience amid Mumbai's increasingly intense monsoon seasons and the city's dependence on public transit.

This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced passenger management, capacity upgrades, and reliable contingency planning for Mumbai's monorail system to prevent such crises in the future.