Mumbai: Local train services on the Central Railway routes were severely affected and flight operations were also hit in Mumbai on Monday after heavy rains in the city, officials said. A spokesperson of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said, "The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mumbai. Additionally, at 1.57 pm today, there will be a 4.40 m high tide in the sea." Swapnil Nila, chief public relations officer of the Central Railway (CR), said train services on the fast line of the main corridor between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai and neighbouring Thane were suspended due to waterlogging at various places. Suburban services were running on the slow line, he said.
The Harbour corridor services were also temporarily suspended due to waterlogging at Chunnabhati. Commuters complained that the operational suburban services were running late. There was a heavy rush of commuters at some of the key stations and in trains. The CR officials said due to heavy rain and high tide in Mumbai, local train movement in the suburban section was affected and asked people to avoid travelling unless unavoidable. The civic body said there will be a high tide of 4.40 meters in Mumbai at 1.57 pm, which coupled with heavy rains could lead to waterlogging in low-lying areas. The Western Railway said suburban trains were running up to 10 minutes late because the water was above the track level between Matunga Road and Dadar due to heavy showers. "High capacity water pumps are being utilised to drain water away from the railway tracks to ensure a smooth commute for Mumbaikars," a Western Railway spokesperson said.
Flight operations hit
Heavy rains and low visibility led to the suspension of runway operations at the Mumbai airport from 2.22 am to 3.40 am on Monday and 27 diversions were reported, sources said. Flights were diverted to cities such as Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Indore, among others, they said. Currently, priority is being given to arriving flights, the sources added. A spokesperson of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking said at least 40 bus routes in the city and suburbs were either diverted or curtailed due to waterlogging on roads at various locations. The IMD issued a "Nowcast" warning at around 10.15 am, valid for three hours, predicting moderate spells of rainfall in the city and suburbs. It forecast "heavy rainfall at isolated places" in the next 24 hours.