Weather Forecast Report LIVE: Vehicles ply on a waterlogged street during heavy monsoon rain in Mumbai. (Source: PTI)Heavy rains continue to batter Mumbai even as IAF, NDRF, RPF, and local police have been engaged in the relief and rescue operations. The rain-affected city is witnessing waterlogging in several parts of its suburbs. The weather department also issued an orange alert signifying that authorities should be alert and ready to take necessary action. Follow Live Updates
Heavy downpour leads to waterlogged roads in Kalyan. (Express photo by Deepak Joshi)Here are some highlights:
Which train services have been affected?
Except for Kalyan to Karjat/Khopoli, all other suburban corridors of Central Railway, Mumbai are functional. Meanwhile, due to heavy rainfall compounded with overflowing Ulhas river, resulting in water logging at Vangani, 17416 Kolhapur-Tirupati Express was cancelled as pairing rake running was late. Similarly, 17415 Tirupati-Kolhapur Express was cancelled for want of a rake. Another update by Western Railway said that despite heavy rains during the night, WR suburban services were running normal. On Friday, while trains managed to function, there was no respite from delays on the central, western and harbour lines.
At least 700 passengers were stranded as Mahalaxmi Express was held up between Badlapur and Vangani station in Mumbai due to heavy rains Saturday morning.
Mahalaxmi Express stuck over Vanagani river bridge
At least 1,000 passengers are stranded as Mahalaxmi Express was held up between Badlapur and Vangani station in Mumbai due to heavy rains Saturday morning.
Read more: https://t.co/taFabClQn8 pic.twitter.com/G281pG4i2r
Following incessant rains over the last 24 hours in Mumbai and adjoining areas, Mahalaxmi Express was stuck over Vanagani river bridge near Badlapur with about 700 passengers. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has dispatched its Mumbai-based batallion to carry out rescue operations. Until now Railway Protection Force (RPF), local police were providing the passenger relief.
At least 700 passengers were reported to be stuck in the Mahalaxmi Express.Authorities have requested the passengers not to get down. The Navy and the Air Force were also in action. Eight flood rescue teams from the Navy including three diving teams have been mobilised with rescue material, Inflatable boats and life jackets. A Sea King helicopter has also been scrambled with divers equipped with Auto inflatable craft for deployment in the area as advance assessment party.
A team of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) rescues passengers stranded at the site. (Express Photo)How has bus/road transport been affected?
Families of Siddhivinayak waiting for the rain to stop so that they can go back to their homes. (Express Photo by Neeraj Tiwari)The heavy rains have affected road transport as well. BEST bus services were the most affected as people in the city had a tough time commuting. However, the bus service is normal in some places which are not facing waterlogging problems. Heavy rain led to traffic snarls on arterial roads while 17 flights were diverted at the Mumbai international airport on Friday. While trains managed to function, there was no respite from delays on the central, western and harbour lines.
Very heavy rains in Kurla-Thane belt and very heavy rains beyond Kalyan. The water from the city area in Ambernath and Badlapur is gushing onto railway area. As a precautionary measure, services from Kalyan to Karjat/Khopoli were suspended. (Express Photo by Deepak Joshi)How have the rains affected flights?
At least seven flights have been cancelled and 8-9 go-around flights have been diverted at Mumbai Airport, according to SkymetWeather. On Friday, low visibility and incessant rain-delayed most flights by half an hour, which grew to an hour by the night.
Where are people stuck in the rain?
The Indian Air Force Saturday launched a rescue operation to airlift over 100 people stuck in different areas of Thane district in Maharashtra due to flash floods triggered by heavy rains, an official said, PTI reported.
At least 70 people are stranded on the terrace of a petrol pump in Badalpur town, 65 kms from Mumbai, while another 45 people are at a private resort in Shahad, 46 km away, PTI quoted the state disaster control room official.
#WATCH Maharashtra: IAF Mi-17 helicopter rescued 9 people, stranded atop a building in Kalyan, today. They were rescued and dropped at Mumbai airport. (Video Source: Indian Air Force) pic.twitter.com/8eKMLhHVWs
— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2019
“A rescue operation has been launched with the help of the Indian Air Force after we received a call at 11am requesting airlift from the terrace of the petrol pump,” PTI quoted the official as saying, adding an IAF helicopter has been dispatched to the spot as well as to the resort in Shahad.
