Mumbai: Thousands are stranded across Mumbai as heavy rain, which has pounded the city since last night, severely affected train services and unleashed massive traffic jams. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the city’s civic agency, ordered all schools to be shut and issued an alert, advising residents to step out only if necessary.
Several flights in and out of Mumbai are still delayed owing to the incessant rain.
More showers have been forecast over the next 48 hours. The tide is expected to rise to 4.60 metres (nearly 15 feet) today.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who visited the civic agency’s disaster control room today, has promised that updated advisories will be issued every two hours to the city.
He also said, “Some trains are halted… we will have them running soon.”
With tracks completely waterlogged, operations are suspended on the Harbour line. Train services have also been stopped between the busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and the Kurla suburb on the Central line. The Western Railways is running staggered services till Andheri.
Around 70-80 lakh people travel everyday by local trains, considered the lifeline of the city.
The city’s BEST buses have also altered their routes in view of flooding and heavy water-logging reported at several areas including Hindmata, Dadar, Parel, Sion, Vikhroli, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Santa Cruz.
Residents took to Twitter to warn others.
Dear Mumbai, please leave home only if you have a boat. If you don’t, please don’t be brave and die drowning. Stay at home. #MumbaiRains
— Mihir Bijur (@MihirBijur) June 19, 2015
Mumbai recorded around 170 mm of rainfall till Friday morning; its suburbs recorded around 155 mm rainfall.
The Met department has warned of heavy rainfall and strong winds in Mumbai and the coastal Konkan region over the next two days.
(Agencies)
