Mumbai braces for more rains while limping to normalcy

Mumbai, which was paralysed on Friday following torrential rains since Thursday night, limped back to normalcy on Saturday, with train services restored on all three suburban lines.

However, the Central Railway has cancelled, terminated as well as rescheduled the timings of several long distance trains. The railway also activated a help line number ( 022-22624983 ) to assist passengers about status of trains.

As the day broke on Saturday, despite drizzling and signs of further rains, people streamed to suburban stations to head for their offices and other places of work which remained shut on Friday.

Traffic on the Eastern Express and Western Express highways slicing through the city was heavy but slow as waterlogging  due to overnight rains slowed movement.

All flights at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on the domestic and international terminals are on schedule today, says an official spokesperson.

Banks, financial institutions, shops and commercial establishments across the city began returning to normal with near-normal attendance.

However, schools and colleges in the city and neighbouring Thane district remained closed on Saturday as per the Maharashtra government's directive.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted intermittent rain or showers and isolated spells of heavy to very heavy rainfall over the weekend.

The IMD forecast of a likely high tide of 4.33m around 3.10pm prompted civic authorities to caution citizens against venturing out.

On Friday, two people died of electrocution following flooding after the city received 283mm of rainfall in one day.