Mumbai Beaten by Rain, Advised to Stay Home Tomorrow Too

Here are 10 developments in the story:

1. ‘We have advised people not to go out and remain indoors tomorrow,” said Mumbai’s civic body chief Ajoy Mehta.


2. Heavy rain has been forecast for the next 24 hours.


3. The civic body has also urged citizens to stay away from beaches and avoid going too close to the Marine Drive sea wall.


4. Several flights in and out of Mumbai have been delayed. Schools run by the civic body were shut down and university exams have been cancelled. Many private schools didn’t declare a holiday but the government urged parents not to send their children.


5. According to a Defence Ministry statement, the Indian navy has posted rescue teams across Mumbai and has kept divers and inflatable boats ready.


6. The Bombay High Court shut down for the day and the city’s BEST buses have altered their routes.


7. Incessant rain has covered train tracks and hit local trains, which are the lifeline of the city. Around 70-80 lakh people take local trains to work day.


8. Railways officials say long-distance trains are resuming service, but local trains are still not running. “We will take a decision after high tide,” said a spokesperson.


9. The railways had earlier asked commuters to travel “only in case of emergency,” saying that water-logging had affected suburban services in Mumbai Central and Matunga. It is advised to all that commuters may travel only in case of emergency,” Western Railway said in a press release.


10. Massive traffic jams were reported across the city, especially in areas that are badly flooded including Dadar, Parel, Sion, Andheri, Jogeshwari and Santa Cruz.