Mumbai Under Water Monorail: When Mumbai rains, the city often comes to a standstill. But on August 19, 2025, the relentless downpour brought an extraordinary crisis. As heavy rain lashed the financial capital for the second consecutive day, hundreds of passengers found themselves trapped inside monorail coaches suspended on elevated tracks, with no ventilation and no clear way out.
Chaos on the Monorail Tracks
For over an hour, a monorail train carrying more than 500 passengers stood motionless between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park stations. Panic spread quickly inside as people struggled without air and feared being stranded longer. Around the same time, another monorail carrying nearly 200 commuters stalled between Acharya Atre and Wadala stations. Rescue teams rushed to the scenes, using ladders and emergency equipment to bring passengers down safely.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) later explained that overcrowding was the root cause. With local train services on the Harbour Line suspended due to the downpour, desperate commuters turned to the monorail, far exceeding its designed capacity. Officials revealed that the stalled train had reached nearly 109 metric tonnes against its limit of 104 tonnes, causing a break in electrical contact and cutting off power.
A City Battling Floods
The monorail crisis unfolded while Mumbai was already battling waterlogging and flooding in several pockets. In just 24 hours, the city received 350 mm of rain—200 mm of which fell in just six hours, a near cloudburst situation. The Mithi River briefly crossed danger levels, forcing the evacuation of around 350 people to safer locations. At least five NDRF teams remained stationed across the city as a precaution.
Across Maharashtra, the situation turned grim. Nanded district was the worst-hit, reporting eight deaths after sudden flooding. By late evening, the state’s death toll had climbed to 15. Crops on nearly 14 lakh acres were submerged, compounding the disaster’s impact on rural families already struggling with erratic weather patterns.
A Test of Preparedness
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reviewed the rain management systems in Mumbai and admitted the city had faced a near cloudburst. He highlighted that over 525 pumps across six main pumping stations and 10 mini stations had been working continuously to push water out of flooded roads. Still, the sheer intensity of the rain left parts of the city paralyzed, affecting flights, local trains, and road traffic.
The overcrowded monorail incident also raised urgent questions about safety measures. MMRDA clarified that the system was never meant to handle crowds like suburban trains or the Metro. Yet, in emergencies, when people are desperate for alternatives, such systems can get overwhelmed. The authority urged passengers to cooperate with security and technical teams in future to ensure smoother evacuations.
A City’s Spirit Tested Once Again
For Mumbaikars, the ordeal was another reminder of how fragile daily life becomes during extreme rains. People stranded on elevated tracks, commuters waiting for hours at railway stations, and families wading through waist-deep water once again showed how quickly the city can grind to a halt. Yet, as always, stories of resilience emerged—from rescuers who braved the storm to passengers who supported each other while trapped.
Mumbai has faced countless monsoon battles in its history, but the rains of August 19, 2025, will be remembered not just for the flooding, but for the shocking sight of monorail trains standing still in the sky, packed with helpless passengers.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information available as of August 19, 2025. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, updates may follow as the situation develops.