Mumbai lashed by heavy rains, municipal body issues stay at home alert

Normal life in Mumbai was crippled Wednesday by heavy rains, forcing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to issue an alert to the city's residents to move out of their homes only if necessary.

Several schools also asked their students to stay home because of the heavy showers.

According to television channel reports, Mumbai's Colaba area has so far recorded 158.6 millimeters of rain in the last 20 hours, while Santa Cruz has recorded 168.6 millimeters of rainfall since Tuesday.

The temperature in Mumbai has dipped to a minimum of 22 degree Celsius due to the continuous rainfall.

The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours. It has also predicted heavy rainfall along the Konkan coast in the next 60 hours. A high tide is also expected on Wednesday afternoon. The fishermen have been asked not to venture in the sea.

Trains are running close to half an hour late in Mumbai. Traffic is also reported to be moving at a snail's pace on the Western and Eastern Expressway.

There are also reports of waterlogging at Hindmata, Grant Road, Napean Sea Road and Lokhandwala Complex. A further update is awaited.