Mumbai, Jul 28: Around 1,200 passengers, including nine pregnant women,on board the Kolhapur-bound Mahalaxmi Express were rescued successfully on Saturday nearly after 18 hours since the train was stuck near Vangani town owing to heavy rain spells,informed officials.
Central Railway Chief Spokesperson Sunil Udasi said 1,050 passengers were safely evacuated without injuries while the State Disaster Authority pegged the figure of saved passengers at 1,200.
Post July 26 deluge,when in 2005,this metropolis witnessed monsoon fury,the Mahalaxmi rescue have now become the biggest joint operation involving trio verticals of Indian Armed Forces as well as the National Disaster Response Force besides the State authorities.
The rescue operation speeded post-noon when rainfall subsided to an extent, enabling quicker movements of personnel as well as the evacuated passengers.
The passengers were ferried in the boats to a village around 1.5 km away from the stranded train, where the villagers extended a helping hand to the arrived passengers.
Mahalaxmi Express rescue operation ends with no casualty
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