Heavy rains bring Mumbaikars' life to halt

Mumbai, July 4: Mumbaikars' life came to a standstill as the torrential rains continued to lash the city and its suburbs for the fourth day today with extremely heavy downpour experienced between 0830 to 1130 hrs.

The Indian Meteorogical Department (IMD) sources said heavy rainfall was recorded this morning. In Colaba, it was 101.3 MM while Santacruz recorded 103.6 MM between 0830 to 1130 hrs. During the last 24 hours ended at 0830 hrs, Colaba recorded 121.9 MM, while Santacruz 152.0 MM rainfall.

The weather department had issued a forecast of heavy to very high rainfall in the next 48 hours.

The suburban railway, the lifeline of the Mumbaikars, was badly affected as the services on the Central and Harbour lines were suspended as the rail tracks were submerged under rainwater at many places. However, Western Railway was operating all its services since morning though much behind schedules.

Due to waterlogging at Wadala Road, Masjid Bunder, Kurla and other low lying areas in the suburban railway station, train services of Main line and Harbour lines were stopped at around 0930 hrs, however, some trains, which were stranded between two stations, were started on slow speed, the railway control room sources said.

Many commuters were stranded in the trains as local trains were halted in between stations for hours due to flooding of tracks.

BEST (Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply Transport) buses were operating with diverted routes as many areas were flooded.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Disaster Management Centre said waterlogging occurred at several low lying areas.

UNI