Mahalaxmi Express: NDRF, Navy team on spot, 300 passengers rescued

Incessant rains in and around Mumbai has affected road service, rail services and airlines too. There has been traffic jams, delay in flights and also delay in train services due to waterlogging and low visibility. A Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express has been stranded since early Saturday morning with around 700 passengers on board. The train is held up since 3 am between Badlapur and Vangani in Maharashtra, which is 100 kilometres away from Mumbai.

#MahalaxmiExpress stuck between #Badlapur and Vangani with around 2000 passengers onboard.#Badlapur pic.twitter.com/cAI28iqT5t

— Prasad Garbhe (@Prasad_garbhe) July 27, 2019

The passengers on the Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express appealed for help with videos shot on cellphones on social media. They were without drinking water or food in the last 15 hours and no way to leave as the train was cut off with five to six feet water on all sides. They were warned not to step out of the train because of the dangerous water levels outside.

The NDRF and the Navy has swung into action and rescue operations is already on. Over a hundred passengers have been rescued (117 women and children). Elders and men will be rescued from the stranded train next. A pregnant woman Reshma Kamble went into labour pain on board. Nine other pregnant women are also stranded on the train.

Mahalaxmi Express rescue operation: 8 flood rescue teams from Navy including 3 diving teams mobilised with rescue material, inflatable boats & life jackets. A Seaking Helicopter also sent with divers for deployment in the area as advance assessment party. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/qBNyGXefL1

— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2019

An NDRF team, a state disaster management team, a railway team, fire brigade teams are conducting the rescue operation together. A seaking helicopter has been sent with divers for deployment in the area as an advance assessment party. Two ADRMs and other senior officials of railway are at the spot monitoring the rescue work.

Actor Varun Dhawan too tweeted praising the work of the residents of Badlapur and also praying for the safety of the passengers.

#Badlapur watching the rescue operation going on praying for the safety of all the passengers and salute to the people of badlapur for helping out.

— Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) July 27, 2019

Also Read: Mumbai Rains: Train Gets Stranded With 2,000 Passengers; 11 Flights Cancelled