The Maharashtra government requested defence officials to arrange airlift of the stranded passengers of the 17412 Mahalaxmi Express.
Early on Saturday morning, the Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express was stranded in between stations with 1,000 passengers which warranted a multi-pronged rescue mission involving the NDRF and defence forces.
#WATCH Maharashtra: Mahalaxmi Express held up between Badlapur and Wangani with around 2000 passengers. Railway Protection Force & City police have reached the site where the train is held up. NDRF team to reach the spot soon. pic.twitter.com/0fkTUm6ps9
— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2019
Two military helicopters and six boats of the National Disaster Relief Fund rescued almost 700 passengers from the train stranded between Badlapur and Wangani stations, 60 km out of Mumbai.
NDRF spokesperson Sachidanand Gawde said,
Of the total 1,000 passengers, we have so far rescued over 500. They are being taken to a safe place about 1.5 kms from the site. Food, water and medical facilities have been arranged for the stranded passengers.
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
Passengers shared that they had no drinking water or food in over 15 hours that they were stranded, and there was no way to leave the train as there was 5-6 feet of water on all sides. The passengers were warned by the railways to not step out of the stranded train because of the water levels outside and requested them to wait for help, reported news agency IANS
Overflow in Ulhas river caused flooding in Ambernath-Badlapur section of Maharashtra.More then 500 passengers evacuated from stranded 17411 Mahalakshmi Exp. Remaining passengers will be evacuated soon.Teams of NDRF, Railway,state Govt.&Fire brigade are working in full swing. pic.twitter.com/PX9C9xOwvb
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) July 27, 2019
#MumbaiRainlive: NDRF on #MahalaxmiExpress rescue: So far, 117 people (female and children) rescued.
— Mumbai Mirror (@MumbaiMirror) July 27, 2019
Follow all #LiveUpdates, here: https://t.co/6OtFbZYj7u pic.twitter.com/haEvaacAtj
The Indian Navy tweeted,
A Seaking Helicopter has also been launched with Divers equipped with Auto inflatable craft for deployment in the area as advance assessment party. HQWNC is keeping a close watch on the situation & is in constant touch with State Admin to respond & provide assistance as reqd.2/2 pic.twitter.com/z0WDJgiVV0
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 27, 2019
Among the passengers rescued, there 9 pregnant women, one of which even went into labour during the time the train was stranded.
Maharashtra government spokesperson Brajesh Singh has said that 8 NDRF boats have been deployed. Central Railway’s senior spokesperson A. K. Jain said,
NDRF teams will rescue the stranded passengers and they will be brought to Badlapur station. We have planned a special relief train to send the passengers to their destination. Food packets have been delivered to the passengers by the local police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
