More than 500 passengers had to be rescued on Tuesday evening after two overcrowded Monorail trains broke down between stations in Mumbai, according to officials. The incident occurred during torrential rainfall that had already disrupted the city’s transport system.

The rescue took nearly four hours, with officials blaming the problem on overcrowding and a power supply failure.

Trains stuck at Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park

One of the Monorail trains stopped around 6:15 pm between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park stations. Rescue teams used cranes to evacuate over 400 passengers. The second train, which carried more than 100 people, was eventually towed back to Wadala station.

Officials explained that both trains were packed far beyond their normal capacity because local train services had been suspended due to the rains.

Panic inside stalled Monorail

Passengers in the train stuck between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park described moments of panic. The power outage cut off lighting and air conditioning. At least 15 people complained of suffocation, though no major injuries were reported.

Medical teams treated 14 passengers on the spot and discharged them. One girl was admitted to a hospital, but her condition was stable.

Fire brigade leads evacuation

The fire brigade used snorkel cranes to rescue stranded passengers. Some described chaotic scenes inside the stalled train.

Narendra Kumar Mishra, one of the rescued passengers, said Monorail staff should have controlled the number of people allowed to board. “I was stuck in the Monorail for almost one hour and 45 minutes. People were scared as there was no communication from the authorities. Some were struggling to breathe, and tried to break the window. A couple of passengers fainted,” he said.

Another passenger recalled, “As the local services on the harbour line were shut due to the heavy rains, we took Monorail, and went through this ordeal.”

A woman passenger added that there was no air conditioning or electricity inside.

🚨 A monorail train is stuck on an elevated track at Mumbai’s Mysore Colony station due to a power supply failure. Over 150 passengers have been rescued and taken to hospital for medical attention. Rescue ops are still underway. #Mumbai #Monorail #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/kgryHq4WSN

— Subodh Srivastava (@SuboSrivastava) August 19, 2025

Authorities respond

Mumbai Monorail initially said the breakdown was due to “a minor power supply issue.” However, MMRDA joint commissioner Astik Kumar Pandey explained, “People were stranded at various stations due to the rains. More people than the carrying capacity of the Monorail trains boarded.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that all passengers would be rescued safely. “Nobody should panic as everyone would be evacuated safely,” he posted on X. He also confirmed that an inquiry would be conducted into the incident.

In another post, he added, “Due to some technical reason, a Monorail is stuck between Chembur and Bhakti Park. MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority), the fire brigade, and the municipal corporation, all agencies have reached the spot. The highest priority is being given to the safety of all passengers.”

Rains cripple Mumbai’s transport

The train stopped at around 6:15 pm, but passengers said the evacuation began nearly an hour later. Heavy rainfall over the last two days had already thrown daily life in Mumbai out of gear, leading to overcrowding in the city’s few operational transport options.