In the first-ever major dislocation of services on the monorail network in the metropolis, two trains were stranded between two stations after a power failure resulted in the disruption in service for nearly four hours on Sunday morning, prompting the fire brigade personnel to evacuate safely the stranded passengers from one of the trains.
Sunday’s was the first disruption in service on the monorail network that began operation in February last year. It was only after 12 noon that normal services on the monorail network were restored.
Passengers on board two trains were stranded between Bhakti Park station and Mysore Colony stations a power disruption reported at 7,58 am threw the services between the two out of gear. The disruption in services took place as the two trains were not receiving 750 vdc electricity that powers the trains. One train was heading towards Bhakti Park station, while the other had just left the same station when power failure disrupted the services.
Power could be restored for a short while by which time one train reached Bhakti Park station. However, the other again got stranded between Bhakti Park and Mysore Colony station. The State-run Mumbai Metropolitan Development Authority (MMRDA) which runs the monorail services, requisitioned post haste the services of the city fire brigade to carry out first-of-kind passenger evacuation operation.
“There were 10 passengers and one train captain onboard the stranded train. All passengers were safely evacuated. No injuries or medical emergencies were reported,” a senior MMRDA official said. “The trains have their own back-up power system and the ventilation systems and lighting in the train was functioning until evacuation of all passengers,” the MMRDA official said.
At 10.45 am power was restored for operations. Taking serious cognisance of the disruption, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the chairman of the MMRDA, tweeted saying that his Government was “looking into the breakdown” and “appointed Principal Secretary (Urban Development) to initiate an enquiry”.