By IANS
Mumbai : All flights were cancelled, trains halted on one of the two major lines of the city railway system, many roads were waterlogged and people were asked to stay indoors as officials feared the sea would surge into India's financial capital after a continuous downpour since early Saturday.
All incoming flights in the Chhatrapati Shivaji airport here have been diverted to different locations.
"Several incoming flights to Mumbai – both domestic and international – have been diverted to other airports like Ahmedabad and Delhi. Outbound flights, which had been delayed, have now been either postponed or rescheduled," an airport official said.
The flooding of railway tracks has forced authorities to suspend services on the central rail line, considered the lifeline of the city.
"All trains from Kurla to Chhatrapti Shivaji Terminus in south Mumbai have been suspended due to flooding of tracks at many points," a railway spokesperson told IANS.
"Several long-distance outstation trains have also been delayed by several hours," he added.
According to meteorological department officials, Mumbai has received around 395 mm of rain since morning, submerging several parts of the city.
The met department has predicted that heavy rains would continue to lash Mumbai for the next couple of days.
Roads across the city, including parts of central and southern Mumbai and western suburbs, were completely waterlogged and badly affected vehicular traffic also. However, officials said the state-run BEST buses were still plying on most routes.
Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has urged people to stay indoors till 5 p.m. as a high tide of about four metres is expected this afternoon. Fishermen have also been asked not to venture out to sea.
"We have pressed into service all pumping stations to drain out water from flooded areas in central, south Mumbai and western, and eastern suburbs since morning," said a BMC official.
He, however, admitted that it would be a daunting task to pump out the water before evening with the possibility of seawater entering the city.