Mumbai braces for more rain, rail services resume
Mumbai: Heavy rain continued to pour down in Mumbai on Saturday morning with reports of enormous water-logging in several parts of the city.The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall today as well.
Mumbai: Heavy rain continued to pour down in Mumbai on Saturday morning with reports of enormous water-logging in several parts of the city.
The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall today as well.
The suburban train services on the Western Railway's Churchgate to Andheri, Central railway suburban local services on main line, Harbour line and on Trans-Harbour line are running normal.
Long distance trains on Western Railway are also running as per schedule. No waterlogging on tracks has been reported as of now.
All schools and colleges will remain closed on the second day on Saturday. Mumbai University had yesterday announced that all the theory and practical exams will on June 20 have been cancelled.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has warned people not to get out of the house unless necessary. Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and army are on alert in case of any emergency.
India's financial capital witnessed highest June rain in 10 years with 283.4mm (Santacruz) of rainfall in the 24 hours from 8.30am on Thursday to 8.30am on Friday. The earlier record was 209.6mm on June 24, 2007, highest in the decade.Colaba, on the other hand, received 208.8mm.
"The city has witnessed unprecedented rainfall in the last 24 hours, more than that the city usually receives in 10 days. Mumbai witnessed 283 mm of rain in 24 hours," the city's Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta told reporters.
"Of the total annual average rainfall Mumbai witnesses, 10 percent of it has been received in 24 hours, which usually takes 10 days," he added.
Two persons have been reported dead in the city due to problems arising from heavy rainfall. A kid that had gone missing after falling into drain has still not been found.
Boy missing after rains; Navy teams join rescue ops
According to an official of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) disaster management unit, a five-year-old boy and a 60-year-old woman died of electrocution in Wadala in central Mumbai.
The airport was operational but flight operations at the city airport were delayed by up to 45 minutes and three services had to be diverted due to incessant rain that has been lashing the financial capital since late Thursday evening.
There was also massive disruption of vehicular traffic with waist-high waterlogging being reported in several areas. The rainwater also entered several homes.
Mehta said that Friday's high tide witnessed in the city was of more than 3 metres high and Mumbai is likely to witness high tides of more than 4 metres, one at about 2 AM and another at about 3:10 PM on Saturday.
"Since there is heavy rainfall along with a high tide expected tomorrow, people should stay away from the seas and ensure that they do not walk on the promenade. Also, before leaving their homes, people should make sure that the route they plan to take is safe for travel," he said.
The rains caused water-logging in almost all low-lying areas of Mumbai and its suburbs including Kurla, Chembur, Tilak Nagar, Andheri, Parel, Lower Parel, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Dombivili.
Several areas plunged into darkness on Friday with Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) shutting down its six substations in the areas following incessant rains.
The substations in areas of Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Punjabi Colony (Sion), Bhendi Bazaar, Opera House have been shut since Friday morning.
The heavy rains also forced Shiv Sena to cancel its foundation day event.