Heavy rains cripple Mumbai, 300 stuck at residential area in Palghar

Heavy monsoon rains lashed the megapolis and its neighbouring areas, flooding streets, rail tracks and crippling life in the city.

Around 300 people were stuck at their homes in Vasai town of the adjoining Palghar district due to waterlogging in the area.

The downpour -- the highest of the season so far in a day -- caused traffic jams as many roads and streets in Mumbai were flooded and people were seen wading through knee-deep water.

Vehicles on many roads were seen crawling because of rain and low visibility, while potholes compounded the problem.

Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde declared a holiday today for schools and colleges in Mumbai due to heavy downpour.

The Mumbai University said examinations will be rescheduled for students who could not appear for it today.

The issue of heavy rains and its impact also figured in the Maharashtra Legislature's proceedings today.

The state government ordered an inquiry into the flooding of the state legislature complex in Nagpur after heavy rains last week.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the Legislative Assembly that the inquiry would ascertain loopholes in arrangements for the monsoon session and whether problems were deliberately left unattended.

Nagpur is hosting the monsoon session of the state Legislature, but on Friday both the Assembly and the Council were adjourned for the day, shortly after convening, due to a power blackout caused by rains.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar sought to know at whose insistence the session was being held in Nagpur during rains, while Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, said taxpayers' money was wasted since the day's proceedings of the House got washed out on July 6
The observatory in suburban Santacruz recorded 122 mm showers during the same period, he said, adding, "The city and its suburban areas received a good spell of showers yesterday. Mumbai got a widespread downpour as the rain intensity escalated to very active."