The air force, navy, army and the National Disaster Response Force launched aerial and surface operations on Saturday to rescue 900 passengers from the Mahalaxmi Express left stranded after heavy rain flooded railway tracks at Badlapur, about 72km from Mumbai.
Nine pregnant women were among those rescued from the train.
Passengers of the Mahalaxmi Express being rescued. (PTI)
“Under leadership of Home Minister @amitshah we swiftly coordinated with all relevant departments; I am happy to announce we have been able to save 900 lives today: Union MoS, @nityanandraibjp speaking on #MahalaxmiExpress rescue operation,” official in the home ministry, Vasudha Gupta, said in a tweet.
Officials at the home ministry said the railway safety control room had intimated the ministry that the Mahalaxmi Express, with 900 passengers on board, was trapped near Badlapur, adding that teams from the NDRF and the navy were pressed into action immediately.
NDRF personnel carry out the rescue operation. (PTI)
The train had left Mumbai for Kolhapur on Friday night but could not travel beyond Badlapur, where it reached early on Saturday.
Four NDRF teams, seven teams of navy divers with specialised equipment, two air force helicopters, including a Sea King and an MI17, and two army columns from Mumbai were deployed for the rescue operation.
Passengers walk on dry land after being rescued. (PTI)
Highway closed
The Mumbai-Goa national highway has been shut since Saturday because of flood in the Jagbudi river in coastal Ratnagiri following heavy rains. Torrential rains since Friday have triggered a flood-like situation in some parts of Thane, Raigad and Ratnagiri districts.
