India's Houston: Heavy rain paralyses Mumbai; flights, trains hit

Met dept records 65 mm rain in 3 hours, forecasts 'extremely heavy rainfall' in next 24 to 48 hours

Torrential rain accompanied by strong winds pummelled Mumbai on Tuesday, disrupting rail, road and air services, uprooting trees, swamping homes, bringing the megapolis and satellite towns to its knees. People’s woes were compounded by the high tide that prevented natural drainage of water into the sea.

Meteorological department sources said Mumbai recorded copious rain of 65 mm in just three hours, the heaviest since 2005.

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting an “extremely heavy rainfall” in the next 24 to 48 hours, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urged the people to stay indoors. Only those government employees who handle