Heavy rains since Thursday have caused water-logging and widespread disruption of train services in Mumbai, stranding commuters and office-goers. Schools have mostly been shut for the day.
The city received 60.34 mm rainfall from 8 am to 8 pm on Thursday, reports Indian Express.
Parts of the city including the Sion subway, Milan subway, Dongri, Mahim, Andheri, including the Veera Desai road were waterlogged throughout the day. According to the traffic department, vehicular movement was slow during the day and traffic in and around Pydhonie and Crawford Market area was affected.
With complete water logging on the tracks, the suburban trains, the lifeline of Mumbai, came to a halt too. Operations were suspended on the Harbour line while trains are plying only between the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and the Kurla suburb on the busy Central line. Meanwhile, the Western Railways line is running staggered services.
The railways have advised commuters to avoid travel unless it is urgent.
"Suburban services are affected due to heavy rains and water-logging in several areas in Mumbai Central and Matunga. It is advised to all that commuters may travel only in case of emergency," Western Railway said in a press release.
In the last four days, the city has also witnessed high tides. On Thursday afternoon, the level of tide went up to 4.5 metres.
With the weather department forecasting heavy showers over the next 24 hours and a high tide of 4.60 metres, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the city's civic agency, has issued an alert, asking people not to step out.
According to this report, a 25-year-old man is in a critical state after sustaining injuries due to electrocution near Golden Hotel on LBS Marg. Two firemen were injured when a tree fell on a fire brigade vehicle in Chembur.
A Mid Day report notes how unsafe the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) constructed Eastern Freeway is at the time of monsoon. It pose a major fire hazard to the entire area.
"The fuel pipelines — carrying diesel, petrol and kerosene — bear the brunt of the water discharge from the Freeway, and are controlled by electric valves. MbPT authorities have been forced to use plastic sheets to cover these valves, where a short circuit could easily be sparked off due to the water seepage,” says the report.
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