1,050 passengers including nine pregnant women rescued from Mahalaxmi Express

Mumbai: All 1,050 passengers onboard the Mahalaxmi Express who were stranded after the train stalled on flooded tracks early Saturday morning, has been rescued, a top official said.
“All the passengers were rescued safely from Mahalaxmi express. They are being provided with food and medical aid. There were nine pregnant women in the train who were safely rescued. One of them is admitted to a nearby hospital for a check-up,” Thane district collector Rajesh Narvekar said in a statement.
The rescue operations lasted about three hours after they began at noon.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Navy had launched a massive rescue operation and the first lot of 150 passengers was rescued around midday after the train had been stranded for nine hours about 90 km from Mumbai.
Two NDRF teams from Pune and two from Mumbai with 45 personnel each were involved in the rescue operations while the navy deployed eight rescue teams including flood relief teams and specialist divers. On request from the state government, defence forces also sent two helicopters to the spot.
Currently, those passengers are being transported to Badlapur station. On behalf of the Central Railway, a 19-coach special train will leave for the passengers of the Mahalaxmi Express from Kalyan to Kolhapur.
CPRO of Central Railway informed that passengers removed from Mahalaxmi Express are being transported safely. From here he will be taken to Badlapur. Earlier, in an appeal to the travelers of Mahalaxmi Express, he said, “We request the passengers of the Mahalaxmi Express that they do not get off the train. The train is safe. Railway staff, RPF and civilian police are searching for you in the train. Please wait for the advice of NDRF and other risk management agencies.
Central Railway CPRO Sunil Sadasi said, “13 trains have been diverted, 6 has been short terminated and 2 has been canceled. This has been done due to the flood in the Ulhas River and the flooding in Ambernath.
Earlier, the rescue defendant forces and local police had reached the spot and distributed essential items like biscuits, water to the passengers stranded in the train. Due to the bad weather, dozens of flights have been affected in Friday.