Monorail train hits beam during Mumbai test run, 3 staffers in hospital, MMMOCL calls it ‘minor incident’ | Watch video
A monorail operated by the Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL), during its test run, hit a beam at Wadala depot in Mumbai. The incident happened on Wednesday morning. According to the reports, the incident led to three staff members getting injured, including the captain of the train. The officials have also mentioned that severe damage was done to the train’s carriage after hitting the beam. Videos of the monorail are circulating on social media, appearing somewhat tilted. The hind part of the monorail’s first coach was also tilted and was taken off the track with a crane in the evening.
What’s the damage caused?
The monorail has suffered major damage to the bogies and wheel covers, as per the officials. In addition, it seemed to be jammed between two beams, and one of its sides was almost hanging in the air.
It also led to the injuring of three people, named Sohail Patel, Budhaji Parab, and V. Jagdish, who were treated at the BMC-run Sion Hospital. Out of the three individuals, the train captain experienced an internal injury, and the other two suffered a hand injury (internal) and a head scratch.
One of the train staffers said that the incident took place within a few 10 seconds after the monorail departed from the platform.
Video
What are the officials saying?
The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL) had acquired this four-coach monorail and nine others at Rs. 55 crore each from Medha SMH Rail Pvt Ltd. MMMOCL called the Mumbai monorail accident a ‘minor incident’. The daily functions of the monorail were suspended already in September for upgradation, amid continuous technical faults.
A fire brigade official said that the monorail hit happened around 9 am on Wednesday when two crew members were rescued safely.
The company’s engineer was also present with the train captain and staffers, and they were visiting the nearby stations.
The transport activist AV Shenoy highlighted, “As trains will be operated without drivers under the Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system, the safety mechanism should be very strong.”
This prompted the workers of Shivsena (UBT) to stage a protest, anticipating the shutting down of Mumbai’s monorail services.
MMRDA sets up committee
A committee was set up by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). As per the authority, this was being done to get a detailed check with respect to the continuous technical faults happening in the past.
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