Mumbai: A major breakdown of a monorail near Mysore Colony station on Monday evening caused chaos and raised questions about emergency preparedness and infrastructure deficiencies.

Passengers complained of poor rescue mechanisms and lack of ventilation, with one commuter stating, "We had absolutely no idea about what needs to be done in an emergency". Others highlighted overcrowding, noting that ticket counters were reopened under pressure despite warnings of congestion.

When official helplines failed, commuters contacted the BMC’s 1916 emergency number, prompting the Mumbai Fire Brigade’s intervention. Twenty-three passengers suffered suffocation and were treated in 108 ambulances. Fourteen were discharged on-site, while four others were taken to Sion and KEM hospitals; all were reported stable.

Two patients were sent to Sion Hospital: Kismat Kumar (20) and Vivek Sonavane (28), both treated on an OPD basis and reported stable.

Additionally, Aman Singh (23) and Aishwarya Sandip Pawar (27) were taken to KEM Hospital for suffocation treatment. According to the sources, Dr. Angele, Chief Medical Officer at KEM, said, "Aishwarya Pawar was brought in with an anxiety issue. She was stabilised and refused admission." Her condition was reported as stable.

Dr. Bharti Rajulwala, Medical Superintendent at Rajawadi Hospital, said, "We were informed that 20 patients would be shifted here, but not a single one arrived till 9 pm," indicating the preparedness of medical facilities.

The rescue operation, which began around 6:50 pm and concluded by 9:50 pm, involved fire brigade snorkel (hydraulic ladders) vehicles, truck-mounted scissor lifts, cranes, and ladders. Officials broke open windows and forced doors to evacuate passengers, prioritising women and senior citizens.

Mumbai Fire Brigade Chief Ravindra Ambulgekar said, “People were scared. Some of them were even ready to jump. We immediately placed jumping sheets on the ground under the tracks to prevent anyone from getting hurt in case any of them jumped off and deployed officers into the coach to calm them."

MMRDA said the incident was caused by overcrowding, which pushed the train’s weight beyond its 104-metric-tonne limit, disconnecting the power supply. Heavy rains had closed the Harbour Line, diverting commuters to the monorail.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that all agencies prioritised passenger safety and announced an inquiry into the incident.

He said, "Due to some technical reason, a monorail is stuck between Chembur and Bhakti Park. MMRDA, the fire brigade, and the municipal corporation, all agencies, have reached the spot. The highest priority is being given to the safety of all passengers."

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde added that the surge in commuters triggered the breakdown.

The Mumbai Monorail, India’s only such system, runs a 20-km route from Chembur to Sant Ghadge Maharaj Chowk at an average speed of 65 km per hour. Officials reiterated it is a limited-capacity system and not designed to handle sudden crowd surges like suburban trains or the metro.

The incident highlighted critical infrastructure limitations and emergency preparedness gaps in Mumbai's public transportation system, particularly during extreme weather conditions when alternative transport options become unavailable.