Record rain hits Mumbai

The strongest rains ever recorded in India shut down Mumbai on Wednesday, cutting off communication lines, closing airports leaving thousands of people stranded.

"At least 200 bodies have already been recovered in the state," said R.R. Patil, deputy chief minister of the state of Maharashtra. "This includes 83 dead in the capital Mumbai."

He said 100 more deaths were feared across the state, which was hit by rainfall since Tuesday afternoon.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said the complete breakdown of basic services was unexpected.

"Our disaster management plan was based on the highest recorded rainfall of 370mm, but on Tuesday, the Metereological Department recorded 995mm just in 24 hours."

Deshmukh ordered a two-day holiday and called the army, navy and home guards to help with relief.

Roads were choked all night as tens of thousands of people were stranded, and the city's two main highways were inundated.

Hundreds of schoolchildren spent the night in suburban schools. Power supplies were cut on Tuesday for safety reasons.