Mumbai Rains: Local Train Services Hit, Holiday Declared For Schools, Colleges

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Monday declared a holiday for all BMC, government and private schools and colleges in Mumbai due to heavy rains. The civic body had earlier announced a holiday for the first session, and later declared a holiday for the second session as well.

Mumbai recorded over 300 mm of rainfall at various places in a six-hour period from 1 am to 7 am on July 8. The highest rainfall was recorded in Govandi (315 mm), followed by Powai (314 mm).

There have been reports of waterlogging and disruption of suburban train services in some low-lying areas. Suburban services of the Central Railway were severely affected due to the waterlogging on tracks on both the main and harbour corridors. On the suburban side, too, local train services were hit.

Local trains on Western Railway were running up to 10 mins late because water was above track level between Matunga Road and Dadar due to heavy rains. High capacity water pumps were being utilised to drain the water away from the railway tracks to ensure a smooth commute for citizens.

At 9.30 am, due to water logging at various places, train services between CSMT-Thane were suspended. Harbour line services were also temporarily suspended due to waterlogging at Chunnabhati.

Local train services have now resumed on the Central and Western Line after the rainwater receded. However, trains are running behind schedule.

The BMC has requested Mumbaikars not to believe in any rumours and to step out of the house only if necessary.

The rainfall recorded in Mumbai during the 22-hour period from 8 am yesterday (July 7) to 6 am today (July 8).

• City: 110.10 mm

• Eastern Suburbs- 150.53 mm

• Western Suburbs- 146.35 mm

Mumbai traffic police posted a photo of Vakola traffic officials helping to clearing drainage outlets on the Western Express Highway, near Ramnagar Subway, to drain out the rainwater.

From Saki Naka Metro Station Peninsula Junction to Tilak Nagar in Andheri (E), water levels had reached 1.5 to 2 feet. However, even though the water levels were receding, the traffic movement was slow.

Videos surfaced online showing people wading through waist-deep waters and cars lined bumper to bumper on roads across the city. 

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall at isolated places for the next 24 hours (till 8.30 am of July 9).

A bridge was washed away, while 54 persons were rescued after their houses were inundated due to very heavy rains in Thane district in the last 24 hours. At least 275 houses in different areas suffered damages and around 20 vehicles were swept away following the heavy downpour on Sunday.

Thane city recorded 120.87 mm rain in the 24-hour period ending at 6.30 am on Monday. The city received 45.98 mm of rain in just one hour between 3.30 am and 4.30 am

Shahapur taluka in Thane district was the worst affected where a bridge on Asangaon-Mahuri road was washed away and the Barangi river in Gujrati Baug area was flooded. In the Gotheghar area of Shahapur, water entered Wafa Nursery area where 38 occupants of three houses were rescued.

In Vashind area, 12 persons were rescued and shifted to safer places after 125 houses were inundated. The heavy downpour also led to washing away of soil by the side of railway tracks in Atgaon.

As part of the monsoon preparedness, NDRF teams are deployed in parts of Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts.

In Kalyan taluka, five houses in Khadavali and three in Waveghar were affected due to flooding. In Bhiwandi taluka, water entered 40 houses.

There was no report of any loss of life and local 'talathis' (revenue officers) have been instructed to speed up the 'panchnama' (spot inspection) and report the losses