Mumbai limps, shuts schools and colleges as rain pounds city for a third day
10 Jul 2018
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Mumbai’s train and bus services limped and local authorities closed schools and colleges as incessant rains for a third consecutive day flooded roads and rail tracks in low lying areas of the city and its suburbs.
It is the highest rainfall of the season so far in 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department said, adding that more rains are expected in the next four days.
Water logging was reported in areas like Kurla, Dadar and Sion and in places like Vasai the distant suburbs. Road traffic was diverted from waterlogged areas while trains were running late. Amidst poor visibility and water logging a woman pillion rider is reported to have hit a pothole and run over by a truck.
"Heavy rains forecast, everyone is advised to stay safe," Vinod Tawde, education minister of Maharashtra tweeted. "Precautionary holiday declared for schools and colleges in the Mumbai metropolitan region, for the safety of the students due to the heavy rainfall," he added.
Mumbai University will reschedule the MSc examination for students who could not appear for it today.
Most long-distance trains were delayed while suburban trains were also hit, railway officials said. The Western Railway's did not operate its AC services for most of the day and was expected to resume services from Churchgate at 2.55 pm.
"Trains on Central Railway are running on all three lines. However, on main line between Kalwa and Thane moved slowly as a precautionary measure because of very heavy rains and water above 8 inch. Senior officials are stationed at these stations for quick management on spot," a tweet by Central Railways said.
Social media visuals of water logging in several low-lying areas such as Dadar, Sion, Parel, Kurla, Vidyavihar, Andheri, Malad and Jogeshwari suburbs were shared extensively.
Although visibility wasn't "very good" at the Mumbai airport, flights operations weren't disrupted, an official said, adding no warning has been issued for the aviation sector so far.
Mumbai received an average of 144.3 mm rains in the last 24 hours, making it one of the wettest days in the current monsoon. The city received 144.47 mm of rain, the eastern suburbs got 107.21 mm and the western suburbs received 131.32 mm till 8.30 this morning.
The entire coastal belt will get heavy rain over the next 48 hours, weathermen said.
