Heavy rains cause traffic snarls in Mumbai, local trains disrupted

MET predicts heavy rains for the next 48 hours

Water logging due to heavy rains that continued to lash the city for a second consecutive day caused major traffic snarls and also disrupted the suburban train services in Mumbai.

"There is water logging in low lying areas like Dadar, Parel, Sion, Kurla, Ghatkopar and the Western Express Highway, which has caused severe disruptions in vehicular traffic along the stretches. The MCGM is trying to pump out water from these areas so that the situation can be normalised," a senior official of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) told PTI.

He said 128 pumps had been pressed into service till 10.30 am to clear water out of the streets and that the civic body plans to install pumps in more areas if the downpour continues.

"There was a high tide in the city until noon and water will now start to recede. Another high tide is expected after 5.30 pm, when waves up to 3.96 metres are likely to lash the city," he added.

Heavy monsoon showers affected suburban train services on the Central Railway's Main and Harbour lines due to water logging on the tracks.

"There is water logging on tracks in areas like Kurla, Chunabhatti, Bhandup, Dockyard and Sion, which is affecting the services of trains. Trains on the Central and Harbour lines are running late by about 25-30 minutes," a senior railway official said.

Another railway official said trains on the Western line are running late by about 10-15 minutes.

"There has been a revival of monsoon. We are expecting heavy rains for the next 48 hours not only in Mumbai, but in the entire Konkan region," V K Rajeev, director of weather forecasting, Mumbai MeT department, said.

Till 8.30 am today, Colaba received 101 mm rainfall while Santacruz recorded 47.8 mm downpour.