Heavy rain in Mumbai has badly hit traffic and train services
Heavy rain since last night has flooded large parts of Mumbai, affecting flights, trains and bus services in a replay of an annual monsoon nightmare in India's financial capital. Thousands are caught in a traffic mess and people have been asked to stay away from the sea during high tide.
Here are the latest developments:
As knee to waist deep water submerged many areas in the morning, Mumbai's civic body issued a flood alert and advised people to stay at home unless absolutely necessary.
"Don't go near the sea," said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging extra caution for the high tide. People have been asked to avoid sea-facing roads.
Several flights in and out of Mumbai have been delayed. Schools run by the civic body were shut down and university exams have been cancelled. Many private schools didn't declare a holiday but the government urged parents not to send their children.
According to a Defence Ministry statement, the Indian navy has posted rescue teams across Mumbai and has kept divers and inflatable boats ready.
The Bombay High Court shut down for the day and the city's BEST buses have altered their routes.
Incessant rain has covered train tracks and hit local trains, which are the lifeline of the city. Around 70-80 lakh people take local trains to work day.
Railways officials say long-distance trains are resuming service, but local trains are still not running. "We will take a decision after high tide," said a spokesperson.
The railways had earlier asked commuters to travel "only in case of emergency," saying that water-logging had affected suburban services in Mumbai Central and Matunga. It is advised to all that commuters may travel only in case of emergency," Western Railway said in a press release.
Massive traffic jams were reported across the city, especially in areas that are badly flooded including Dadar, Parel, Sion, Andheri, Jogeshwari and Santa Cruz.
The Met department has warned of heavy rainfall and strong winds in Mumbai in the next 24 hours.
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