Take that umbrella if you are off to catch the metro!

Be sure you are armed with an umbrella before you decide to take the metro during rainy days. This because, although escalators in the 12 Mumbai Metro stations are protected from rain, commuters are not. They will get drenched while moving around in the stations.

According to a Mumbai Metro spokesperson, the 95 escalators along the corridor are protected from rain and dust through 'Ingress Protection 54' technology that protects them against liquids, materials, dust and mechanical impacts.

However, commuters getting on the platform or in the concourse level will get wet during the rains.

Similarly, commuters moving from Andheri station to the skywalk are exposed to the elements, and have to run for cover if they do not want to get wet while it rains.

Andheri is one of the busiest metro station that provides interchange facility to Andheri railway station, and has as many as 16 escalators. This metro station also has a pit created below it to which rain water can be channelled, and extra water can be pumped out on a regular basis.

"Not only are there no shelter from rains, the floors of the station become slippery making it dangerous to run for cover when it rains," said Darshan Kothari, a commuter staying at Kandivli.

Another passenger, Irfan Sikkawala, a Byculla resident, said: "Some temporary shelter should be put up during the monsoon so that the station building is as comfortable as the metro."

When Mumbai Metro spokesperson was contacted to check on canopy, he said: "For benefit of the commuters, staircases and escalators have now been sheltered with canopy."

The other areas, however, remain exposed to the elements. So, don't forget that umbrella!