Two killed as heavy rains, high tide drown Mumbai; commuters stranded

Mumbai: Normal life in the country'sfinancial capital came to a grinding halt on Friday as torrential rains wreaked havoc in the city and its suburbs leading to cancellation of local train services that left thousands of commuters stranded.

The downpour also led to disruption of vehicular traffic and delayed flight operations with three services being diverted.

The average rainfall recorded in 24 hours ending 8 AM on Friday is City 188 mm, Eastern Suburbs 155 mm, Western Suburbs 172 mm, according to the meteorological department.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has also issued an alert in view of the high tide (4.47 metres) expected during the day. People were also asked to avoid sea facing roads.

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.

There seems to be no let up in the situation with the Meteorological Department predicting heavy to very heavy monsoon rains in some areas.

The heavy rains also forced Shiv Sena to cancel its foundation day event while the Bombay High Court declared holiday as lawyers and staff could not turn up.

All courts in Mumbai including the HC will remain shut for the day due to heavy rains, officials said.

One flight each of Indigo and Jet Airways had to be diverted to Ahmedabad, while a third one of Go Air had to be sent to Vadodara, said a spokesperson for the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA).

While Central Railway services still remain cancelled, the Western Railway has partially resumed services on a limited stretch between Andheri and Virar.

Earlier in the day, thousands of commuters leaving for offices were caught unaware on reaching the suburban railway stations as trains were being cancelled due to water-logging of tracks following heavy downpour since last night.

Narrating his ordeal, Nalasopara resident Atul Panday, an executive working with Alkem Laboratories said, "Normally, it takes me 50 minutes to reach Andheri from Nalasopara, but today it took around two hours."

BMC has already ordered schools across the city to remain shut in view of rains while Mumbai University (MU) deferred examinations of BA, MA and also the practical examinations of MSC.

MU Deputy-Registrar Leeladhar Bansod said all examinations have been put off to the next date as it was not possible for students to come to exam centres due to heavy rains.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the BMC control room and reviewed the situation. "I reviewed the situation with the chief secretary and top civic officials," he said.

Fadnavis appealed to residents to venture out only if required and asked people to stay away from seafronts during high tide as it can prove "fatal".

After taking stock of the situation at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) disaster management cell, he also suggested to the public to refer to advisories being issued by the civic body on an hourly-basis before leaving home.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Metropolitan and Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said operations of Metro Rail and Mono Rail services are not affected whereas Central Railway cancelled seven outstation trains in the view of rains.

As per a statement issued by BMC, as many as 120 suction pumps are pressed into service to drain out water in low-lying areas.

Sources said long distance trains are bunched up outside Mumbai as they are not getting signal to enter the city due to water-logging.

BMC PRO Vijay Khabale said the municipal corporation has already issued orders to keep schools shut for the day and that it has appealed to Mumbaikars not to approach sea shore.

He said all machinery of BMC is on alert mode.

Deputy PRO of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Manoj Varade told PTI they operated 203 extra buses in view of cancellation of local train services.

He said BEST converted buses on short trips into long trips to facilitate transportation of maximum passengers.

Varade said as many as six power supplying sub-stations were shut to avoid any untoward incident like short circuit.

BMC also issued a statement saying it has received a good rainfall in the catchment areas of reservoirs that supply water to Mumbai.

"No casualties or untoward incident like falling of trees, landslide was reported," it said.

BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta visited water-logged Hindmata area and reviewed the operations.