Heavy rains sink Mumbai again

It was a sense of déjà vu for the Indian financial capital, Mumbai as normal life was disrupted yet again-thanks to heavy rains and the resultant water logging in various parts of the city.

The road, air and train services were severely affected. As a result, attendance in many corporate offices was down to zero and many crucial meetings were cancelled.

The boards of Reliance-owned IPCL, Pantaloon Retail and the market regulator Sebi, however, met in time in the city.

Airport officials said air traffic was severely hit due low visibility and the airport had to be closed for few hours in the late afternoon. Several incoming flights to Mumbai - both domestic and international - were diverted to other airports like Ahmedabad and Delhi. Many outbound flights, which had been delayed, were either postponed or rescheduled, said an airport official.

The services of city's lifeline, the railways grind to a halt by early morning due to flooding at many points on the tracks. "The main Central Railway is operational only up to Byculla and the harbour line is operational only up to Kurla due to flooding in areas near the CST terminus in South Mumbai," Chief Public Relations Officer for Central Railways, Shriniwas Mudgerikar said.

Many outstation trains had also been delayed due to the rains, he said.

Western Railway authorities said that many outstation trains were cancelled and the suburban services were delayed by more than an hour.

Flooding was reported in many parts across the city including areas vulnerable to them like the Milan and Malad sub-ways in the Western suburbs, parts of central Mumbai and south Mumbai.

Incidents of flooding were also reported in many parts the western and eastern suburbs due to the heavy rains which have continued since last night.

The meteorological department had predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall till Sunday in parts of the city. The municipal authorities has warned citizens to avoid unnecessary travel.