Mumbai rains HIGHLIGHTS: Bus, train services resume following rainfall, normal life remains unaffected in city

With resumption of bus and train services, normal life in Mumbai remains unaffected on Thursday amid the heavy downpour in the city since last night that caused severe waterlogging and traffic snarls in the city.

The Mumbai civic body today announced a high-level probe into the death of a 45-year-old woman after falling in a storm water drain here after heavy rains. The incident occurred at 9.20 pm on Wednesday near gate no. 8 of MIDC, Andheri East, police earlier said. The victim was identified as Vimal Anil Gaikwad. Local police and the fire brigade were alerted and they took the woman to the Cooper Hospital where she was declared brought dead, the police said. In a release issued on Thursday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said a three-member committee, headed by deputy municipal commissioner (zone 3) Devidas Kshirsagar, will submit its report on the incident within three days. Mumbai fire brigade chief Ravindra Ambulgekar and chief engineer (vigilance) Avinash Tambewagh are the other two members of the committee.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pune in Maharashtra on Thursday was cancelled following heavy rains in the city, sources said. Modi was to flag off a Metro train in Pune and launch various development projects, ahead of the state assembly elections. BJP sources confirmed that the PM's visit to Pune was cancelled. The new date for his visit will be announced later. After heavy rains on Wednesday evening, the SP College ground, the venue of PM Modi's programme, had muddy pools. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday visited the college ground and said arrangements were being made to ensure nobody is inconvenienced. The MeT department has also issued a warning of heavy showers in Pune and Mumbai for Thursday.

IMD Director Sunil Kamble said, "Till yesterday afternoon orange alert was issued for Mumbai. But with the monsoon intensifying we issued a red alert till 8:30 am this morning. As soon as we issued a red alert we saw that more than 200 mm of rain was registered in the regions of Mumbai. Today, we have issued an orange alert for Mumbai. From today orange alert has been issued for a lot of districts and from tomorrow green and yellow alert will be issued. In the next 5-6 monsoon will reduce and there are chances that monsoon will withdraw till October 5. Red alert has been issued for Palghar."

According to the sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Maharashtra visit has been cancelled today (September 26) due to the heavy rainfall alert. The PM was supposed to arrive at Pune airport at around 5:35 pm. The groundbreaking ceremony of many important programmes including the inauguration of the metro train was to be done by the Prime Minister on Thursday. 

(With inputs from Devendra Parashar and Sameer Bhise) 

A BEST spokesperson said their operations were normal, though 28 buses, including seven hired from private contractors, broke down due to waterlogging at some roads in the city.

In wake of the 'red alert' issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), schools and colleges will remain closed, said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).Also, BMC has advised people of the city to only step out of their homes if required. "The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for Mumbai, till tomorrow morning 8.30 am. In view of this, all schools and colleges in Mumbai have been declared a holiday for tomorrow Thursday, 26 September 2024, in consideration of the safety of students. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration requests Mumbaikars to step out of homes only if required." BMC said on X. This comes amid heavy rainfall that has lashed parts of Mumbai, affected the bus services due to waterlogging and traffic congestion.

The Central Railways said that the local train services were restored in Andheri station on Thursday morning as the water has receded following a night of heavy downpour across Maharashtra's Mumbai resulting in severe waterlogging. In a statement issued by the Central Railways, it said, "All local trains are running normally. On the main line, 3-4 minutes behind schedule because of rescheduled mail express movements and few cautions, Rest all normal." The Central Railways earlier said that harbour line local trains resumed after the water receded between Govandi and Mankhurd. "Trains are running with caution and a restricted speed of 25 kmph. Services resumed at 11.23 pm," it added.