MUMBAI: 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 of people are caught in a traffic mess and a high tide warning has been issued.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this story:
- Mumbai’s civic body issued a flood alert in the morning andadvised people to stay at home unless absolutely necessary.
- People have been warned about a high tide in the afternoon. A tide of 4.60 metres (nearly 15 feet) is expected shortly and people have been asked to avoid sea-facing roads. “Don’t go near the sea,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
- All flights in and out of Mumbai have been delayed.
- Schools run by the civic body have been 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.
- The Bombay High Court has shut down for the day and the city’s BEST buses have altered their routes.
- Incessant rain has submerged train tracks and affected local trains, which are the lifeline of the city. Around 70-80 lakh people take local trains to work day.
- Operations on the Harbour line have been suspended and services have also been stopped between the busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or CST and the Kurla suburb on the Central line. The Western Railways is running staggered services till Andheri.
- “Suburban services are affected due to heavy rains and water-logging in several areas 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.
Story First Published: June 19, 2015 12:18 IST