In Pictures: Mumbai Reels Under Heavy Rains; Local Trains Disrupted, Commuters Stranded
Mumbai expected to receive “heavy to very heavy” rains in the next 24 hours, IMD says.
Heavy rains lashed Mumbai and adjoining Navi Mumbai and Thane regions, disrupting suburban train services and leaving vehicles crawling through water-logged roads in low-lying areas.
Traffic congestion was seen on all major arterial roads, including the Eastern and Western Express Highway, Sion-Panvel highway and LBS Marg as the rains continued to pour from Monday night. Flight operations were temporarily halted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, but had resumed around 5:45 pm, according to ANI.
The Indian Navy has deployed five flood rescue, and two diving teams to assist citizens across the city. A return to normalcy is expected by 10:30 pm, civic body BMC said in a media conference, advising citizen to stay indoors as much as possible.
"Typhoon-like weather" is how industrialist Anand Mahindra described it earlier as the heavy rains left roads flooded in several parts of the city.
Local railway services were disrupted with the trains on all three lines - western, central and harbour - were suspended due to waterlogging on tracks.
The disaster management wing of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, city’s municipal body, is in touch with the official weather office, K Hosalikar, deputy director general (western region) of Indian Meteorological Department told BloombergQuint over the phone.
Over the heavy downpour, the city also saw a 3.23 metre high tide which receded by 4:45 pm, according to BMC. High tides coupled with heavy rains increase the chances of flooding as excess water doesn’t get drained into the sea.
The Bandra-Worli sealink was shut for a few hours due to the high tide, but it was opened again by 6:00 pm.
The city is expected to receive “heavy to very heavy” rains in the next 24 hours, the Met department said.
