Mumbai limps back to normalcy after heavy rains, train services restored; water logging cleared

Mumbai: A day after heavy downpour and flooding brought Mumbai to a standstill, the maximum city is moving back to normalcy. Train services are being restored on all the three suburban - Western Railway (WR), Central Railway (CR) and the Harbour Line - bringing life in Mumbai back on track.

Water logging in various areas has been cleared and transport services have resumed with some only few reports of cancellations and delays. However, areas like Parel continue to be waterlogged while some areas are still facing power cut. Officials say power is shut since Friday as a preventive measure and it will be restored in a soon.

Much to the respite of the authorities, the Mithi river is also flowing well below the danger mark. However, the MeT department has said that heavy showers are expected over the next 24-48 hours. "We have advised people to remain indoors on Saturday," Mumbai's civic body chief Ajoy Mehta said.

Ignoring the drizzle, men and women streamed to suburban stations around the sprawling Metro to head for their offices and other places of work which remained shut on Friday. However, Maharashtra government has directed all schools and colleges in the city and neighbouring Thane district to remain closed on Saturday.

A statement issued by Central and Western Railway said that all suburban services were running as per normal schedule including Harbour line and Trans-Harbour line in Central Railway.

Heavy rains pummelled country's financial capital on Friday and its suburbs during which two persons were electrocuted. 283 mm of rain, which is normally received in 10 days, was received in just 24 hours on Friday.

Normal life was brought to a grinding halt with several areas waterlogged and local train services cancelled leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

A 4.33 metre high tide was expected in the Arabian Sea on Saturday afternoon around 3.30 pm and people had been warned against venturing near the seashore or beaches dotting Mumbai.

The Shiv Sena-BJP controlled BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which came under severe fire from the citizens and various political parties for the collapse on Friday, continues to be in a state of high alert to tackle any eventuality over the next couple of days.