Torrential rains flood Mumbai’s rail tracks and roads: derail traffic
01 Jul 2019
Tran and bus services were affected in and around Mumbai, following flooding of rail tracks and roads in the wake of heavy rains in the morning. On the Central Railway, due to heavy rain between Kurla and Sion, up fast line services have been held up. Suburban services were running cautiously on the down fast, up and down slow lines.
On the Harbour line at Vadala Road, trains are running at slow speed.
An update from Central Railway in the morning said all lines on the main line were operational. However, due to bunching of trains, the bunched locals are being gradually cleared.
Streets remained flooded in most low lying parts of the city following heavy rainfall.
Mumbai witnessed 93 mm of rainfall and the Palghar area received 361 mm in the last 24 hours.
General manager of Western and Central Railways A K Gupta has been closely supervising the situation from Mumbai Central Control Room to "keep the wheels of local trains rolling," tweeted Western Railways
According to private weather forecaster Skymet, Mumbai can expect intermittent “on and off” rains till 5 July. Rains are expected to get intense starting night of 3 July wherein hefty showers will be seen as the weather system which formed in the Bay will move towards the West coast giving heavy showers, it added.
Every monsoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) faces public ire for not getting the city adequately prepared for rains.
To facilitate passengers of 12921 Flying Rani and 59023 Mumbai Central-Valsad Fast Passenger which are cancelled, additional stoppages have been provided to 22955 Kutch Express which will stop at all halts where 59023 halts up to Valsad and at all halts of 12921 bet Valsad and Surat.
In the last 6 hours, Santa Cruz recorded 35 mm of rains wherein Mahabaleshwar saw 39 mm of heavy rains, Skymet has reported.
Skymet Weather's Jatin Singh has said that Mumbai is at a “serious risk of flooding” between July 3 and July 5.
“Close to 200 mm or more rain per day is going to batter the city during this period, which could hamper normal life in the city. July also looks extremely promising for Mumbai after good rains were observed in the month of June,” he added.
BEST bus routes have been diverted due to severe waterlogging in some areas.
Railway minister Piyush Goyal is reported to be keeping a close watch, especially on services and arrangements “for safety of commuters”.
“He is in constant touch with the senior railway officials,” Western Railway has said in a tweet.
Mumbai Airport has said that some flights are running late by 25-30 minutes. But there have been no cancellations or diversions due to the rain: Reports
Meanwhile, a goods train derailed between Karjat and Lonavala in Maharashtra today, affecting Mumbai-Pune intercity and long distance services, a railway official said.