Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express held up due to rains; IAF, Navy deployed to rescue stranded passengers

Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express, with 700 passengers onboard, halted due to incessant rains on Saturday morning, informed the Central Railways. Efforts to rescue to stranded passengers is underway. Teams of NRDF, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force has been pressed into action. As per latest update, 500 people have been rescued. Efforts to rescue others are underway.

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Initially, authorities planned to airlift the passengers to safety. However, the operations were hampered due to incessant rains. 

As per latest update, three boats have reached the site of the train to assist passenger. "Chief Secretary personally looking into it," said Brijesh Singh, Inspector General, Directorate General of Information and Public Relations.

A team of NDRF personnel along with teams of Indian Navy navy are on the move to rescue of passengers stranded in Mahalakshmi express in Wangni area. An IAF chopper has been pressed into action to support rescue efforts. Eight NDRF boats - six inflated and two more currently being inflated - with rescue personnel on it just a few hundred metres away from site.

The train is held up between Badlapur and Wangani at KM72. Badlapur is about 100 km from Mumbai. 

RPF and City police have reached the site where Mahalaxmi Express is held up. They are distributing biscuits and water to the stranded passengers. 

Central railway requested passengers stranded in Mahalaxmi Express not to deboard or get down the train: "Our request to passengers of Mahalaxmi Express, please don't get down from train. Train is the safe place. Staff, RPF and City Police is in train to look after your well being. Please wait for advice from NDRF and other disaster management authorities," it tweeted.

 

Our request to passengers of Mahalaxmi Express, please don't get down from train. Train is the safe place. Staff, RPF and City Police is in train to look after your well being. Please wait for advice from NDRF and other disaster management authorities — Central Railway (@Central_Railway) July 27, 2019

 Authorities also kept assuring the stranded personnel onboard.

RPF and City Police in stranded Mahalaxmi Express assuring the passengers.#MumbaiRainsLiveUpdates @drmmumbaicr pic.twitter.com/o9pMQPnox9 — Central Railway (@Central_Railway) July 27, 2019

RPF and City Police in stranded Mahalaxmi Express assuring the passengers in coach#MumbaiRainsLiveUpdates @drmmumbaicr pic.twitter.com/lXAJV09APl — Central Railway (@Central_Railway) July 27, 2019

 

Incessant rains have paralysed the entire city of Mumbai and its suburbs. Heavy rains also lashed in several other parts of Maharashtra.

Central Railways cancelled train services between Badlapur and Karjat/Khopoli. "Very heavy rains in Kurla-Thane belt and very-very heavy rains beyond Kalyan. As a precautionary measure, we have suspended services from Kalyan to Karjat/Khopoli. Services on all other corridors of Central railway are running," Chief Public Relation Officer, Central Railway said in a tweet.

"City is expecting intermittent heavy showers all through the night. We request commuters to not venture in water-logged areas and also request you all to maintain distance from the sea. Please tweet to us or call on 100 in any emergency/need of help," said Mumbai Police.

On Saturday morning, the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) 11 flights have been cancelled due to inclement weather. These include seven departures and four arrivals. Eight flights carried out go-arounds, while nine have been diverted. The airport had diverted 17 flights on Friday evening.