Mahalaxmi Express update: All stranded passengers rescued

Mumbai Fire Brigade flood response team carry out Badlapur Rescue and Relief operation. Pic/Mumbai Fire Brigade Team

All 1,050 (700 passengers with confirmed tickets as per railways PNR plus passengers who were travelling in the general compartment) passengers of the Mahalaxmi Express stuck on waterlogged tracks near Vangani in Thane district have been rescued by the NDRF, the Central Railway said. The rescue operation picked up after rain subsided a little post-noon, enabling quicker movement of personnel and the evacuated passengers.

Many passengers especially the senior citizens, who tried to walk but lost strength especially the senior citizens, police and others promptly hoisted them on their shoulders and took them to safer locations. A few local villagers, many of whom were also stranded in the floodwaters, nevertheless ventured out to help the train passengers before the official rescue teams from Mumbai, Thane and Pune reached the venue.

The train had left Mumbai for Kolhapur on Friday night, but could not travel beyond Chamtoli, where it reached early Saturday.

During the rescue operations, ambulances with 37 doctors were deployed for an emergency. Necessary arrangements including food were made available at Sahyadri Mangal Karayalay. 14 buses, three tempos arranged for further movement.

NDRF commandant Sachidanand Gawade said, "The train services are suspended between Badlapur and Karjat and Khopoli. 15 trains were diverted via Karjat-Panvel-Diva while seven trains were short-terminated at Panvel, four trains were cancelled."

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He added, "We deployed 5 BN NDRF teams for today. Our two teams left from RRC Mumbai in which
one team for Badlapur to rescue passengers stuck in Mahalaxmi Express while another team for Tamba and Raite villages to Kalyan for rescuing water-logged trapped villagers. One team has left from unit headquarter in Sudumbare village in Mawal taluka for search operation since there is a report of a drowning incident in Indrayani river at Indori, Maval. While one team of Famex has left from Chiplun, Ratnagiri to Sindhudurg for search operation in view of drowning incident"

Director of Disaster Management Unit, Abhay Yawalkar has also requested Air Command, Air Force, NDRF, Navy and the Military to air lift the stranded passengers in Mahalaxmi Express.

Also Read: Mahalaxmi Express: WNC deploys teams to render assistance in flood affected areas

Pic/NDRF

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and assured him all support in the rescue operation. Four NDRF teams along with nine boats have reached the site, 72 km from Mumbai, of the trapped Kolhapur-bound train and rescue operations have started, a home ministry official said.

The rescue team of NDRF consisted of about 45 rescuers. These teams were equipped with flood relief items and specialist divers, the official said, adding special equipment and clearance divers will be airdropped close to the train for the assistance of passengers and assessment of the situation, the official said.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had appealed the citizens stranded in Mahalaxmi Express to not worry and has ensured that all measures and rescue operations are taken care of roping in all expert teams from NDRF, Army, Navy, Local administration, Police, Railway Ministry.

- With inputs from Diwakar Sharma, Suraj Ojha, Faizan Khan and Chaitraly Deshmukh

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