Urge people of Mumbai and surrounding areas to stay safe: PM Modi

PM Modi took to Twitter to say: "Urge the people of Mumbai and surrounding areas to stay safe & take all essential precautions in the wake of the heavy rain."

In an early tweet, Modi said that he spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the present situation in Mumbai. "Spoke to Maharashtra CM @Dev_Fadnavis on the situation arising due to incessant rain in Mumbai & surrounding areas. @CMOMaharashtra."

Railway and traffic movement in the city has been badly hit due to incessant rain.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has urged people to stay indoors, avoid travel unless urgent and keep watch on Police and BMC advisories.

The Chief Minister visited State Disaster Management Control room to oversee the present scenario.

The Prime Minister even assured to provide all kinds of support to the Maharashtra government. "Centre assures all possible support to the Government of Maharashtra in mitigating the situation due to heavy rains in parts of the state."

The Mumbai Police advised people to leave their cars if the water reached the level of the tyres, media reported.

"If D water on D roads is heading up to the level of your tyres, please abandon the car. Being on your 2 feet may be uncomfortable but safer," the police tweeted.

The high-tide around 4.50pm has worsened the situation and people have been advised by the MDMA  to seek higher areas if necessary, media reports said

"#MumbaiRains Stay at safer - higher place. Expect high tide at 4:50 PM. Do not take risk by driving through water," NDMA India tweeted.

Met Office has predicted heavy rainfall: "Heavy rainfall spell over Gujarat, Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra, southwest Madhya Pradesh and southeast Rajasthan during next 3 days."

With what is being described as a "typhoon like situation," the met office has predicted that the situation will remain grim at least for the next 48 years with a high tide likely to hit by the evening.

According to reports, the rainfall recorded by the automatic weather stations between August 27 at 8 am and August 28 at 8 am was 102 mm.

Rain in Worli was 63.75 mm, Byculla 78.21 mm, Bhandup, 90.63 mm and Vikhroli, 111.96 mm.

Between 8.30 am to 2.30 pm Monday, the regional Meteorological Centre, Colaba recorded 35.8 mm and the one at Santacruz recorded 28.6 mm of rain.

The reports said the rains have  affected the movement of local trains, the lifeline of the city and its suburbs.

The Central Railway mainline services are operating with a delay of 30 minutes and the Harbour line services with a delay of 15 minutes.

The local train services on the Western Railway are also operating with a delay of 10 minutes due to heavy rainfall.

Road traffic has either been disrupted or diverted in several areas as a result of the downpour, causing owes to the commuters.

Several trains have also been cancelled while multiple flights are being delayed.

Predicting that the next 48 hours of the rains would continue to spell a bad period, the met office has advised people not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary.

The continuous showers caused waterlogging in Sion, Dadar, Mumbai Central, Kurla, Andheri, Sakinaka areas.

Mumbai had witnessed unprecedented rainfall on July 26, 2005. The city was paralysed due to floods and normal life disrupted.

President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, also tweeted to express his concern over the situation in Mumbai."Thoughts with families, especially children, in Mumbai & western parts of the country hit by heavy downpour."

"Govt & public agencies taking all steps amid heavy rains. Glad to note voluntary groups & citizens too coming together" the President added.