Stay indoors, civic agency advises Mumbai residents

Mumbai/New Delhi: A constant downpour for the past three days not only derailed normal life in Mumbai but the civic agency also advised people to stay indoors and consider travel plans only if necessary.

As rail and road traffic was disrupted and flooding occurred in several parts of the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) asked schools to remain shut as a precautionary measure. The Indian Meteorological Department has said the heavy spell will continue for the next 48 hours and forecast high waves of 4.95 metre this afternoon.

Suburban trains, the lifeline of Mumbai, ran late by 30-45 minutes late though the Harbour Line on the Central Railway (CR) had to suspend train services between Wadala and Mankhurd due to flooding of tracks, said A K Singh, spokesperson, CR. The suspension of services hit commuters travelling to the eastern suburbs and Navi Mumbai badly. Trains on the Western Railway were also running late. More than five million commuters use the suburban trains daily.

Aircraft operations at Mumbai international airport have been normal, said a spokesperson.

Delhi continues to have overcast skies with spells of rains.

According to the regional Meteorological Centre, the city received 2cm rainfall till 6pm on Wednesday. The forecast for the next 48 hours is “thunderstorm with rain”. The meteorological department, however, was only able to say that rains would not be heavy and said they cannot forecast the amount of rainfall the city is expected to receive over the next two days.