Rain havoc in Mumbai: Western Railway services disrupted, schools and colleges closed, and roads turned into ponds. Mumbai is once again battling torrential rains. As soon as the city woke up on Wednesday morning, the continuous rain from the sky worsened the situation. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai and surrounding districts, warning that there is a possibility of thunder and lightning along with heavy to very heavy rains.
Break on the speed of Western Railway
The local train service, called the lifeline of the city, was the first to face the brunt of the rain. The tracks were submerged due to heavy rains overnight on the Western Line. As a result, more than 12 local trains running between Churchgate and Dahanu Road had to be canceled. Passengers going to the office in the morning had to face a lot of trouble.
Although the services were resumed later, the trains are being run cautiously and at limited speed. Western Railways informed that the services are currently running with a delay of 20–25 minutes. At the same time, trains on the Central and Harbor Line are running on their regular time, which gave some relief to the passengers.
Red alert in many districts of Maharashtra
The warning of IMD was not limited to Mumbai only. Red alert has also been issued in districts like Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and Ratnagiri. Meteorologists say that the speed of rain may increase further, which may lead to waterlogging in low-lying areas and a complete halt of traffic.
Water on the roads, and traffic came to a standstill
The effect of rain was clearly visible on the roads of the city. Many areas of Dadar, Andheri and South Mumbai were flooded with knee-deep water. The speed of vehicles on the Western Express Highway and Eastern Freeway became like a turtle. Passengers stuck in the jam for hours shared their troubles on social media and appealed to the administration for relief. The traffic police has appealed to the people to avoid waterlogged routes and leave the house only for important work.
Flights were also affected
The effect of rain was also seen at Mumbai airport. Flights started getting delayed due to bad weather and poor visibility on the runway. Indigo Airlines issued a special advice to its passengers, saying that they must check the flight information on their website or mobile app before reaching the airport and take extra time for the journey. Airport officials say that flights may remain delayed throughout the day.
Schools and colleges closed in Thane
In view of the possibility of rising water levels of rivers in Thane district, the District Collector declared a holiday in all schools and colleges on Wednesday. Parents welcomed this decision and said that it is not safe to send children out of the house in this weather. Many private schools in Mumbai also decided to conduct online classes in view of the situation.
Mumbai’s tolerance is being tested again by the rain
Like every year, this time too Mumbai is facing the same challenge – to fight the rain and keep life on track. Waterlogging disrupts small businesses, deprives daily wage workers of employment, and also causes hardships to patients rushing to hospitals.
Municipal and disaster management teams are on alert, pumping stations are constantly pumping out water, and helpline numbers have been activated. Still, residents struggle to carry on with their daily lives.
The IMD red alert is still in effect, and Mumbai is hoping that the downpour stops soon so that the city can resume its pace.