Railway Authority Warns of Critical Situation in Mumbai, Thane, and Associated Regions due to Monorail Malfunction Stranding Passengers
Heavy rain and a technical snag led to a major incident on the Mumbai monorail on August 19, 2025, trapping over 700 passengers for several hours. The incident occurred due to a combination of factors, including overcrowding, a power breakdown, and procedural lapses.
The first monorail train, carrying 582 passengers, stalled between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park stations around 6:15 PM. A second train, with about 200 passengers on board, stalled near Wadala but was successfully towed back to the station.
Overcrowding was a major contributing factor since the monorail is designed for a limited capacity and not equipped to handle large surges of passengers like regular suburban trains or metro services. This overcrowding created a safety risk and contributed to panic and suffocation complaints among stranded passengers.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which operates the monorail, blamed overcrowding for the incident. Preliminary checks found that the weight of the stalled train exceeded its designed capacity, making it impossible to tow the train to the nearest station.
The MMRDA found lapses in adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) during the incident. Consequently, two senior officials—the Chief Engineer (Signal & Telecom), Manish Soni, and the Manager (Security), Rajiv Gite—were suspended for their "lapses" in operational protocols.
A high-level inquiry committee was constituted by the MMRDA to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into all aspects of the incident and suggest corrective measures to improve safety and operational reliability.
Rescue operations involved the use of snorkel ladders by fire officials to evacuate passengers safely, with some treated for suffocation or breathlessness on site and a few hospitalized. One girl was hospitalized, but her condition was reported as stable, and fourteen others who reported suffocation were treated on the spot.
The incident occurred amid intense rainfall in Mumbai, with the city receiving 186.91 mm of rainfall over the 24-hour period from August 19 to 20. The heaviest showers occurred early morning and around 7:30 AM. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert warning for several districts in India on August 20, predicting intense to very intense rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds.
In addition to the Mumbai monorail incident, five individuals are reported to be missing in the Nanded district due to a flood-like situation. IndiGo issued an advisory on August 19 for its travelers, anticipating air traffic congestion in Mumbai due to heavy rain. The IMD has predicted extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai and surrounding coastal districts.
Despite the challenges posed by the heavy rain, transport services in Mumbai were reported to be normal on August 19, with no BEST bus diversions, and all Central, Harbour, and Western Railway lines operating smoothly. However, schools and colleges in Thane were closed due to the heavy rain.
As the city continues to battle the heavy rain, the MMRDA and the Maharashtra Disaster Management Department are working to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens of Mumbai. A detailed technical review is being conducted to prevent recurrence of the incident, and rescue teams remain on high alert to respond to any emergencies that may arise.
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