He said two NDRF teams have been rushed to the site. 'Helicopter services and naval assistance have also been sought,' he said.

NDRF personnel are rescuing the passengers, a senior official said.

The Central Railway appealed to passengers not to try getting out of the train on their own. 'Our request to passengers on the Mahalaxmi Express is, please don't get down from the train. The train is a safe place. Staff, RPF and city police are in the train to look after you. Please wait for advice from the NDRF and other disaster management authorities,' Sunil Udasi, the chief spokesperson of Central Railway, said.

Maharashtra government spokesperson Brajesh Singh said eight NDRF boats have been deployed.

Central Railway's senior spokesperson A.K. Jain said the teams will rescue the stranded passengers and they will be brought to Badlapur station.

'We have planned a relief train to send the passengers to their destination. Food packets have been delivered to the passengers by the police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF),' he added.

Mahalaxmi Express, a long-distance train with 700 passengers on board, is stuck near Badlapur in Thane district bcause the tracks are flooeded.

The National Disaster Response Force has started rescue work and asked for the navy's help. The train left Mumbai for Kolhapur on Friday night but could not travel beyond Chamtoli where it is stranded since the early hours of Saturday because of a raging river, Ulhas, an official said.

'The passengers are safe, but the only concern is a rise in the water level on the tracks,' resident deputy collector (Thane), Shivaji Patil, said.