Heavy rains in Mumbai: Schools shut; trains and buses delayed
Torrential monsoon rains lashed Mumbai and its neighboring areas, flooding streets, rail-tracks and crippling life in the city. The downpour, the highest of the season so far in a day, caused traffic jams as many roads and streets were flooded and people were seen wading through knee-deep water. Vehicles were seen crawling because of the rain and low visibility while potholes compounded the problem.
Several schools declared holiday; office-goers stay at home
Several schools declared a holiday today and many office-goers decided to stay at home. Suburban trains were running late by five to 15 minutes due to water-logging on rail tracks in some places. According to a Western Railway official, movement of trains on some tracks, which got submerged, had to be stopped but services continued on other tracks with restricted speed.
Heavy water-logging in many areas
There was also heavy water-logging in the central areas of Kurla, Sion, and Dadar. Mira Road, Nallasopara, and Vasai were largely affected due to the heavy showers. Trains under Central Railway were moving slow, but no service was canceled, an official said. Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses were slightly delayed, but no service was canceled or suspended, a BEST spokesperson said.
IMD forecasts more heavy rains tomorrow
Visibility at the Mumbai airport was "not very good" but flights were operating according to schedule. The meteorological department has forecast more heavy rains in Mumbai till tomorrow. The Colaba observatory in south Mumbai recorded 170.6mm rainfall in the last 24 hours. "It is the highest rainfall of the season so far in 24 hours," IMD Mumbai's deputy Director General KS Hosalikar said.
Mumbai's neighboring districts receive even worse rainfall
Hosalikar said that the intensity of rains in Mumbai city's neighboring districts of Palghar, Raigad and some parts in the south Konkan region was even more vigorous with these areas receiving 200 mm rainfall since yesterday.