NDRF personnel carry out rescue and relief operation after a train bound for Kohlapur from Mumbai was stranded following heavy monsoon rain near Badlapur in Thane district
Mahalaxmi Express was held up between Badlapur and Vangani near Mumbai due to incessant rains on Saturday morning with around 1050 passengers onboard, DRM Central Railways said. Railway Protection Force and City police have reached the site where the train is held up. Navy chopper and NDRF have been deployed rescue boats are deployed for the rescue operation.
Authorities called in the National Disaster Response Force and also sought help from the navy to rescue the 700 stranded passengers of the train, which left Mumbai for Kolhapur on Friday night but could not travel beyond Chamtoli where it is stranded since the early hours of Saturday, an official said.
"Due to a raging Ulhas river, the Mahalaxmi Express train got stuck at Chamtoli within the limits of Badlapur due to flooded tracks. The passengers were safe, but the only concern was a rise in water level on the tracks," Resident Deputy Collector (Thane) Shivaji Patil said.
Highlights:
07:30 pm: IAF chopper airlifts people stranded in Thane.07:00 pm: People on the petrol pump roof and in the resort near Kalayan have also been rescued now, says Maharashtra's Directorate General of Information and Public Relations.
06:15 pm: Rescued passengers from Mahalaxmi Express leave for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) via a special train.
04:30 pm: People wade through chest-deep water in Ulhasnagar of Thane district.
04:00 pm: Streets flooded in Bhiwandi due to heavy rainfall in the region.
03:30 pm: Home Minister Amit Shah praises the teams of NDRF, Navy, IAF, Railways and state administration for safely rescuing all the 700 passengers stranded on Mahalaxmi Express near Mumbai.
03:20 pm: A special train with 19 coaches will leave from Kalyan to Kolhapur with the passengers of Mahalaxmi Express, says Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer
03:00 pm: All passengers rescued from stalled Mahalaxmi Express, says Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer
01:37 pm: Passengers being brought to Badlapur. 550 people have been rescued so far
12:58 pm: 220 passengers rescued from stalled Mahalaxmi Express
12:53 pm: A nine-month pregnant woman went into labour in the stranded Mahalaxmi Express train which has been stuck in flood waters at Vangani for around 18 hours. Some unconfirmed reports said that there are at least another nine women on board in different stages of pregnancy who are in distress and awaiting help.
12:46 pm: 7 Navy teams, 2 helicopters of Indian Air Force, 2 Military columns have been deployed along with local administration. Two more military columns are on the way, says Maharashtra Chief Minister Office
12:34 pm: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis instructs the Chief Secretary to personally monitor rescue operations at Wangi where people are stranded in Mahalaxmi Express
12:17 pm: So far, 117 people (female and children) have been rescued.
11:47 am: A team of National Disaster Relief Force rescues passengers of Mahalaxmi Express
11:32 am: 8 flood rescue teams from Navy including 3 diving teams mobilised with rescue material, inflatable boats & life jackets. A Seaking Helicopter also sent with divers for deployment in the area as advance assessment party
11: 20 am: Here's the list of trains cancelled due to heavy downpour
11:09 am: Government of Maharashtra has requested Air Force, NDRF, Navy and Military to perform necessary rescue operations of the stranded passengers of Mahalaxmi Express including Airlift of passengers.
10:46 am: Mahalaxmi Express rescue operation: According to CPRO, Central Railway, total 700 passengers are on-board the train. NDRF team and Navy chopper are conducting rescue operation.
10:38 am: A team of National Disaster Response Force arrives at the location where Mahalaxmi Express is held up between Badlapur and Wangani
10:19 am: 8 NDRF boats with personnel only few hundred metres away from the site. Will shortly reach the train – Central Railway
10:16 am: Three boats for rescue have reached the spot where Mahalaxmi Express is held up between Badlapur and Wangani, Brijesh Singh, Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR), Maharashtra
9:56 am: Two people injured as metal shade from high rise building falls amid heavy rainfall in Thane
ALSO READ: Mumbai rains disrupt air traffic. Here's the list of flights delayed, cancelled
9:16 am: Central Railway to Mahalaxmi Express passenger:
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
9:11 am: Railway Protection Force and City police have reached the site where Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express is held up. Biscuits and water being distributed to the stranded passengers. NDRF team to reach the spot soon.
9:04 am: Water-logging at Road No. 6 in Sion, following heavy rainfall overnight
8:53 am: A high tide, with waves 3.33 meters-high, hit Mumbai at 7.49 am on Saturday.
Today’s High Tide time – 0806 hrs- 3.36 metres, Low Tide 1341 hrs – 2.36 metres, Next High Tide – 1904 hrs – 3.31metres.
8:46 am: Severe waterlogging in Chembur area following continuous rainfall in the city. IMD predicts intermittent rain with heavy to very heavy falls at few places in city and suburbs
8:25 am: Train services on Kalyan-Karjat/Khopoli shunted due to heavy rainfall leading to overflowing of Ulhas river between Ambarnath-Badlapur-Vangani.
8:17 am: Several trains cancelled or short-terminated due to waterlogging at Ambernath, tweeted Central Railways
8:04 am: 11 flights have been cancelled, 9 have been diverted at Mumbai Airport.
7:50 am: 150-180 mm rainfall received in suburbs in the last 24 hours; Heavy rainfall expected today, says IMD, Mumbai.
7:42 am: Mahalaxmi Express held up between Badlapur and Wangani with around 700 passengers; National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team moved for the spot
7:01 am: Heavy rainfall predicted in the city for the next 24 hours
"Heavy rainfall over Konkan region, including Mumbai, is predicted for the next 24 hours,” tweeted K S Hosalikar, deputy director-general of IMD
6:45 am: Water-logging at Gandhi Market area, Sion after rainfall in the region
6:35 am: Cars in Badlapur submerged and the water is reaching the first floor, resident shares video
6:00 am: Railway tracks submerge at Badlapur railway station on the Central line of Mumbai Suburban Railway network, following rainfall in the region.
Heavy rainfall continued to lash Mumbai and its adjacent areas on Saturday, which caused waterlogging and traffic jams across the city. The Indian Meteorological Department has also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai in the next 24 hours. An orange alert has also been issued for the city. Mumbai witnessed moderate to heavy rainfall in isolated pockets in the city and suburbs on Friday evening, as the IMD's Colaba observatory recorded of 53.2 mm of rainfall from 8.30 am to 8.30 pm.
Around 17 inbound flights were diverted from the Mumbai airport to nearby airports following the heavy downpour in the city on Friday. Heavy showers revived the July 26, 2005 fury when Mumbai received 944 mm rainfall in a single day.
“Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts, while extremely heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Palghar district,” an IMD official said.
“There is cyclonic circulation over northern parts of West Bengal and the neighbourhood. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is expected over coastal areas of West Bengal and around. This would also enhance rainfall over the west coast. Heavy rainfall over Konkan region, including Mumbai, is predicted for the next 24 hours,” tweeted K S Hosalikar, deputy director-general of IMD, Mumbai.
VIDEO: Mumbai: Water logging due to heavy rain,17 Flights Diverted
ALSO READ: Heavy rains in Mumbai revive memories of July 26, 2005 fury
