After heavy downpour, Mumbai limps back to normalcy

Mumbai: After three days of heavy downpour, Mumbai is slowly limping back to normalcy with its lifeline public transport—local trains coming back to life, however the roads continue to be in a state of mess causing problems for commuters.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), parts of the metropolis recorded 150 to 200 mm rainfall from 0800 hrs of Tuesday to 0800 hrs of Wednesday.

“Heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places of the city and suburbs. Occasional gusty winds reaching 45-55 kmph very likely,” according to the weathermen forecast for the day.

The Central Railway (CR) Main Line and Harbour Line and Western Railway (WR) services were running, however, delays have been reported.

“Extremely heavy rainfall has been recorded over the past two days. Moreover, since midnight on Wednesday, continuous rainfall has been ongoing. Despite the heavy rains, routine life in Mumbai continues smoothly. Services of Central Railway, Western Railway and Harbour Railway, along with BEST Buses, are operating smoothly,” the BMC said.

Overnight rains lashed the twin districts of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban and neighbouring districts of Palghar, Thane and Raigad.

The District Collectors of Palghar, Thane and Raigad have declared holiday for Wednesday as a precautionary measure.

Heavy rains were also reported from Pune and Nashik districts as well and water is being released from dams, according to latest reports.

In the last six days in Maharashtra, 21 rain-related deaths were reported while standing crops spread across 12 to 14 lakh acres were damaged in the five geographical regions of Konkan, Western Maharashtra, North Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha.

The IMD has asked fishermen along the Konkan-Goa coast not to venture into the Arabian Sea.

In parts of Vasai-Virar locality in Palghar district, waterlogging was reported in several places and road transport was badly affected.