Monsoon fury: 500 stranded passengers rescued from held up Mahalaxmi Express
Mumbai, July 27 (IBNS/UNI): Rescue officials worked hard to evacuate 500 passengers who were present in the stranded Mahalaxmi Express at Badlapur area in Maharashtra where rainfall has disrupted normal life, officials said on Saturday.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with other security forces are performing the evacuation process.
NDRF reached the spot along with six boats at 0943 hrs and started the rescue operation along with local police, KDMC fire brigade, Tehsil administration, local administration State emergency Operation.
These teams which reached by road included Flood relief teams and specialist divers. In addition, one helicopter has also been deployed with special equipment and clearance divers, to be dropped close to train for assistance and situation assessment.
Along with TDRF (Local task Force), Navy and NDRF, one Army Column has also been moved to the location.
The Army 's column has 130 trained personnel carrying food packages, drinking water and rescue material.
Badlapur station is 72 kms away from Mumbai.
Around 0850 hrs on Saturday, Railway Safety Control Room intimated that the Mahalaxmi Express was trapped near Badalpur and required urgent rescue due to rising water level, the Home Ministry officials said.
One NDRF team with six boats were immediately dispatched to the site and two other NDRF teams followed them after few hours. Navy and Airforce are being kept ready on standby.
A team of railway officials, Railway Protection Force and medicos headed by Additional Divisional Railway Manager M N P Singh is available at Badlapur station at contact no 8828119001.
Further arrangements for shifting of passengers to Kolhapur are being undertaken.
Image: NDRF Twitter page
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