Mumbai Rains Update: Help reached 9 hours after passenger stranded in Mahalaxmi Express, 500 saved
Mahalaxmi Express in flood water near Vangani.
Mumbai, July 27, 2019: Due to heavy rains, Mumbai has once again become flooded. With constant rain, water is flooded in many areas. The Meteorological Department issued warning on Saturday. Due to water filling on track, 700 passengers of Mahalaxmi Express are stranded for about 9 hours, about 55 kilometers away from Mumbai, near Vangani. Four teams of NDRF are ferrying passengers with the help of eight boats. So far, 500 people, including women and children, have been evacuated from there.
CM Devendra Fadnavis has said that the Navy has 7 teams and two Air Force helicopters are present at the spot where Mahalaxmi Express, which was going from Mumbai to Kolhapur, is stranded. The situation is in control. The Chief Secretary to visit Vangani and personally monitor rescue operations.
Around 9 hours to rescue the stranded passengers in Mahalaxmi Express, eight teams of Navy have been deployed, including the team of 3 divers. Teams have been dispatched with rescue materials, boats and life jackets. Before this, the team of Navy divers was sent on the spot to take stock of the situation with a helicopter.
Mahalaxmi Express is trapped between Badlapur and Vangini due to heavy rain and water filling on the track. There are about 700 passengers on the train. The rescue work continues. RPF and local police teams distributed biscuits and water to stranded passengers.
Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, requesting passengers stranded in Mahalaxmi Express, said that they should not get down from the train. The train is the safe. Wait for the instructions of NDRF and other Disaster Management Authorities.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis appealed citizens stranded in #MahalaxmiExpress to not worry & has ensured that all measures & rescue operations are taken care of roping in all expert teams from NDRF, Army, Navy, Local administration, Police, Railway Ministry.
Fadnavis tweeted, “500plus people rescued by NDRF so far including 9pregnant women. Ambulances with 37 doctors with gynaecologist deployed for emergency. Necessary arrangements like food,etc made at Sahyadri Mangal Karayalay. 14buses,3tempos arranged for further movement.”
