Commuters on a waterlogged road amid rain in Mumbai.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Traffic movement in Mumbai was badly affected as heavy rains lashed the financial capital of India and its suburban areas impacting the road traffic on Monday.
The train services of the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR) were a bit slow on the Central Line and Harbour Line services while the Western Line was running normally.
Heavy overnight rains were also reported in Western Maharashtra districts of Pune and Solapur, and twin Konkan districts of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg.
According to latest reports, more than 16 persons had to be rescued by the local administration and disaster management machinery.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was monitoring the situation from Nagpur, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah is attending a series of events.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who is the guardian minister of Pune district, inspected the affected areas of Baramati, where a canal has breached leading to inundation.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, who is the guardian minister of Mumbai City district, too reviewed the emerging situation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'yellow' alert for heavy rainfall throughout the day in Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar districts. An 'orange' alert for very heavy rainfall has been issued in Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts.
Private airliner SpiceJet in an advisory to passengers said: ”Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status.”
“Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph are very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai during the next 3-4 hours. Take precautions while moving out,” IMD Mumbai said.
Water gushed into the tracks in Byculla, Matunga, Sion, affecting the Central Line and Harbour Line services.
Waterlogging on roads was reported in the Dadar area of central Mumbai.
Water also gushed in the garden area of Mantralaya, the state secretariat.
The NDRF has been put on alert in Mumbai.
People were advised to stay away from the Marine Drive and Worli Seaface and beaches like Dadar, Juhu and Marve.
There was a severe traffic jam on the Western Express Highway, the arterial road of Mumbai.