Mumbai down under, millions stranded

Mumbai: Millions of people were hit on Tuesday as heavy rains for a second straight day flooded roads and rail tracks and forced schools and offices to shutdown in Mumbai.

Residents estimated that up to four million had been affected by the downpour that started 30 hours ago and shows no signs of abating, bringing many parts of the city under three feet of water.

Private and public vehicles either crawled or came to a halt on many of the arterial roads. Mumbai's suburban trains, its lifeline, stopped plying in some areas after tracks disappeared under a sea of water.

In the rest of the city, the trains, which normally transport over five million people a day, ran slowly and behind schedule.

The Mithi river, which runs through the city branching off to three points midway, was flowing at dangerous levels.

Because of high tide, the rain water is not able to get to the sea. In the process, millions in Mumbai once again suffered the torture they undergo every year during monsoon.

Streets went under water in the low-lying areas of Dadar, Khar, Santacruz, Goregaon, Malad, Kandivli, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Byculla, Sion, Mazagaon, Wadala, Vikhroli and Ghatkopar.

According to the Weather Bureau, Mumbai was battered by 98 mm rainfall till Tuesday morning. The suburbs notched 125 mm.

Traffic jams were reported on most roads as well as the two highways serving the city. Train traffic was hit on all three sections: Western as well as Central Railway and the Harbour Line.

The worst hit was the train link between south Mumbai and the neighbouring district of Thane.

A spokesperson for Mumbai Airport said that all incoming flights were delayed by 15-20 minutes on account of poor visibility (about 800 metres) and due to strong winds.

The flooded Mithi river flows close to the airport. The authorities put up barricades and sand bags to prevent rain water from entering the airport complex.

Several schools in the city and suburbs declared a holiday. Children were informed over phone to stay home in view of the rains and the forecast of further downpour.

Many offices asked their employees to leave after lunch, knowing well that the disruption in public transport would mean that people may have to walk many kilometres to reach home.

There has been no official statement on the extent of disruption and damage in Mumbai.