Heavy rain cripples Mumbai, disrupts train services

Reports said the situation is likely to be compounded as there is an alert against  high tide of 4.60 metres (about 15 feet) likely  around 2 pm and predictions of more rains.

All schools have been ordered to close by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the city's civic agency, which has issued an alert, advising people against stepping out and avoid treading sea facing roads.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has visited the BMC control room to take stock of the situation.

A Western Railway release said "suburban services are affected due to heavy rains and water-logging in several areas in Mumbai Central i Central and Matunga."

The rail authorities have advised people to travel by train only if necessary.

Railway sources said with rain waters submerging tracks, operations have been suspended on the Harbour line. Train services have also been stopped between the busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and the Kurla suburb on the Central line. The Western Railways is running staggered services till Andheri.

The heavy rain caused massive  traffic snarls across the city as hundreds of vehicles  remained stuck up in jams. Tens of thousands of commutes remained stranded either on streets or in railway stations.

The city's BEST buses have changed their routes because of flooding at several areas including Hindmata, Dadar, Parel, Sion, Vikhroli, Andheri, Jogeshwari and Santa Cruz.