Thane:The Indian Air Force (IAF), Navy, Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) initiated a huge aerial and surface operation here on Saturday to rescue an estimated 1,500 passengers stranded on the flooded railway tracks in Vangani in the Mahalaxmi Express.
At least two helicopters, including a Seaking and an MI17, were dispatched from Mumbai to the site following an SOS from the Maharashtra government to the Defense officials.
Simultaneously, teams of the NDRF reached the train from Badlapur, around 7 kms away in inflatable rubber boats and started extracting the passengers from the train, which left Mumbai for Kolhapur on Friday around 8 p.m.
The teams, which included divers with unique equipment and medical assistance, managed to rescue about 120 passengers at midday, including females, kids and infants, although work was hampered by continued heavy rain.
Officials said it may take several hours depending on the rain and flood waters to finish the rescue procedure.
