Local train services halted in Mumbai, orange alert issued as heavy rainfall continues

After the incessant and heavy rainfall that lashed Mumbai last weekend causing transport and property damage in many areas slowed down briefly on Monday (July 19) morning and picked up momentum again which led to waterlogging at some places and disrupting local train services, officials said. 

Local trains services were heavily affected by the rainfall. Many trains came to a halt and many routes were cancelled due to waterlogging in the area. Services of the Central Railway (CR) were affected due to water-logging on tracks between Vikhroli and Bhandup following heavy showers in parts of the suburbs, CR’s chief spokesperson Shivaji Sutar said that the suburban train services were suspended in that section of the mainline from 10.35 am to 10.50 am as a precautionary measure.

According to a BMC official, the eastern suburbs of Mumbai recorded the highest 90.65 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8 am on Monday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an 'orange alert' for the citizens of  Mumbai on Monday, predicting heavy to very heavy rain at few places. 

Nineteen people were killed on Sunday (July 18) when a wall collapsed on some houses in the Mahul area of Chembur after a landslide took place and thirty were killed due to other rain-related reasons. Though, no fresh deaths were recorded on Monday due to the rain according to the BMC.