1,050 passengers, including nine pregnant women, rescued from Mahalaxmi Express stranded in floodwaters after 17 hours

In a massive joint operation, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Navy, Army and Air Force, on Saturday rescued amid heavy rain as many as 1,050 marooned passengers — including nine pregnant women — from the Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express which remained stranded in heavy floodwaters for more than 17 hours near Vangani, 69 km away from Mumbai.

The authorities used three helicopters — two Seaking of Navy, one Mi-17 of Air Force — and several inflatable boats for the first-of-its-kind rescue operation that lasted for nearly eight hours.

Beginning its journey amid pouring rain, the Kolhapur-bound Mahalaxmi Express — which had left Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus at 8.20am on Friday — got stuck at Chimtoli village near Vangani station.

“What made matters difficult was the Ulhas river flowing in the vicinity was in spate. With tracks under knee-deep water, the train could not proceed further. The passengers on board were safe, but the raising water levels on tracks became a cause for concern,” a senior Thane district official said.

 “The train had proceeded on its way as water had begun receding, but after a sudden spell of intense rainfall, coupled with overflowing of the Ulhas river, the train was completely stuck in deep water at Vangani,” a Central Railway spokesperson said.

A majority of the passengers on board the Mahalaxmi Express were blissfully unaware of their train having been stranded near Vangani railway station till Saturday morning.

Some of the passengers who were awake when the train came to a grinding halt at Vangani had stories to narrate. “We were stranded. We did not know where we were. We were helpless. Meanwhile, we were further scared when a snake also sneaked into our compartment,” said an aggrieved passengers Asha Barode. “We ran out of drinking water on the train,” said another passenger Dilip More.

Around early morning, some of the passengers tried to reach out several rescue agencies, including the Railway police.

The rescue operation began in the morning. The Navy mobilised nine flood rescue teams, including five diving teams with rescue material, inflatable boats and life jackets. It launched a Seaking Helicopter with divers and auto inflatable craft for deployment in the area as advance assessment party.

Despite the heavy rain, the rescue teams managed to reach the spot and immediately rendered assistance to the stranded passengers. The Seaking helicopter and IAF MI-17 helicopter provided aerial surveillance and supported the ground rescue teams in the rescue efforts.

“Along with the NDRF and State Government teams, the Navy teams successfully evacuated all the passengers to safety by the afternoon. The Western Naval Command was in constant touch with State Administration and continues to remain prepared to respond as required to provide necessary assistance,” a Navy spokesperson said.

Personnel from various agencies, including the NDRF, Navy and local volunteers, brought down the passengers from the stranded train and carried them and their luggage in inflatable rubber boats to a nearby village where they served drinking water, hot tea and biscuits.

Later, the rescued passengers boarded buses, tempos and smaller vehicles to go to Badlapur, 7 km away. The Central Railway then took by a local train to Kalyan where a 19-coach special train was kept ready to take them to the temple town of Kolhapur.

The rescued passengers included nine pregnant women - one of whom went into labour pains during the stranded period -- several senior citizens, infants and kids and some physically-challenged persons. As many as 37 doctors including gynaecologists were part of the rescue teams.

Meanwhile, the stranded nine-month old pregnant woman, Reshma T Kamble, who went into labour pains, was also shifted to the Shushrut Hospital in Badlapur where she is now under observation.

In a tweet put in the morning, the Chief Minister’s Office stated: “Maharashtra CM @Dev_Fadnavis appeals the 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”.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai called up Fadnavis and offered all help from the Centre for the train passengers.

Later in the day, a satisfied Chief Minister tweeted: “Happy to inform that all the passengers stranded in #MahalaxmiExpress have been evacuated safely. Congratulations & Thank you to @NDRFHQ, Army, @indiannavy, Airforce, Police, Indian Railways, Local administration and entire team for this coordinated & great efforts!”

Detailing the role played by the Central Railway in the operation, its spokesperson said: “The Central Railway had an escort party in the train that pacified passengers and teams of the local city police and the RPF reached the compartments to distribute food and biscuits. They also assured the passengers and told them not to get down from the train”

“The Central Railway then alerted the Disaster Control of the Maharashtra Government that took a decision to air-lift stranded passengers. By 11 hrs, one coach had been evacuated by the Thane Disaster Management Cell,” the spokesperson added.