Mumbai Hit by Heavy Rainfall, Records Broken

Torrential rains in Mumbai on Tuesday inundated several low-lying areas, slowed down road traffic and local train services hit, affecting normal life in the metropolis and neighbouring areas. The Brihanmumbai Municipal

Corporation said the government and semi-government offices in Mumbai will remain closed on Tuesday and appealed to the private establishments to allow their employees to work from home and avoid unnecessary travel.

Schools and colleges were also shut in view of the relentless rains and the 'red alert' warning issued by the IMD, which forecast extremely heavy showers at isolated places in Mumbai and neighbouring districts on Tuesday. The Directorate of Higher Education has declared a holiday for all senior colleges in the Konkan region of

Maharashtra. The order applies to colleges in Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.

The Central Railway suspended its local train services on the harbour line between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kurla stations due to submergence of tracks in a section after heavy rains. It also suspended the services on its main line between Kurla and Sion stations as the rail tracks got waterlogged.

A senior official of the Central Railway said the harbour line services were

suspended between CSMT and Kurla from 11:20 am since the tracks were submerged under nearly 12 inches of water as the Mithi river located nearby swelled.

In the 24-hour period ending at 8 am on Tuesday, the island city, eastern and western suburbs recorded an average rainfall of 186.43 mm, 208.78 mm and 238.19 mm, respectively, an official said. The IMD has predicted "very heavy to extremely heavy" rainfall in the city and suburbs of Mumbai with occasional gusty winds reaching 45-55 kmph.

Vikhroli reported the highest downpour at 255.5 mm, followed by Byculla at 241 mm, Juhu 221.5 mm and Bandra 211 mm, the IMD said.