Mumbai: The Maharashtra government sounded high alert on Tuesday after heavy rains pummelled Mumbai and adjoining areas, disrupting rail, road and air services and threw normal life out of gear.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the State Disaster Management Control (SDMC) room here and took stock of the situation arising out of the heavy rainfall which has crippled the financial capital of the country.
The Mumbai Police and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) are continuously updating the people with updates.
The police, NDMA and BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appealed to people not to step out of their home unless absolutely necessary.
The National Disaster Response Force launched a rescue mission with police to evacuate people from low-lying areas. It has also issued an emergency number 1916.
The Mumbai Police, Fire Brigade and other agencies are on high alert to combat the situation.
Traffic jams were reported on all major arterial roads, including the Eastern and Western Express Highway, Sion-Panvel highway and LBS Marg as the rains continued since Monday night.
Traffic was closed on Bandra Worli sea link due to water logging at Worli end. Milan subway and Andheri subway closed due to water logging.
Traffic as slow at Dadar and Nagar and people were advised to avoid going towards Bandra Kurla Complex duet to water logging.
Waterlogging was also reported from Dahisar, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Santacruz, Bandra, Matunga, Elphinstone, Mumbai Central, Mazagaon, Lalbaug, Wadala, Bhandup.
Suburban services were disrupted with trains on all the three lines--western, central and harbour--running late. Waterlogging on tracks was reported in Andheri and Bandra, civic officials said.
Thousands waded through waist-deep water to reach home after the city received more than 100 mm (4 inches) of rainfall. Children were sent home early from school.
Weather officials have predicted more heavy rains over the next 24 hours and have urged people to stay indoors.
Operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were hit, There is an average delay of 35 minutes.
IMD has already given heavy to very heavy rainfall warning to Maharashtra and Gujarat governments, IMD Director General KJ Ramesh told PTI.
