Mumbai: Heavy rains continued to lash Mumbai city and its adjoining areas on Tuesday, disrupting the daily life. More than 100 flights were delayed and train services disrupted.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team on Tuesday rescued 1500 stranded passengers from Vadodara Express stationed at Nala Sopara due to water-logging. Railway tracks at Nallasopara station got submerged after water level rose to 260 mm. 2000 packets of food were also sent for the stranded passengers.
Earlier in the day the, Bombay High Court pulled up the Railways for failing to maintain smooth functioning of operations and implied that they should go for privatisation if they are not able to prevent the annual problem of waterlogging.
The Court observed that “Central & Western Railway have not done anything. Even after so many years, suburban railway tracks are submerged in rains.” “Why can’t you raise the height of tracks to avoid flooding?” the Court asked.
Streets at Gandhi Market, Sion Panvel Highway, Chembur, and Vadala were waterlogged as Meanwhile, 120 people were rescued from Palghar’s Bhoidapada.
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Efforts were being made to ensure smooth operations of the local train, which is the lifeline of Mumbai. “Mumbai local is the lifeline of the city. The entire team of Central Railways has worked hard to ensure uninterrupted services. We are confident that we will be able to maintain train services not only in Mumbai city but also outside,” Sharma told the media.
“Services of AC local have been suspended today in view of very heavy rains & water logging at/around Nallasopara, till further information,” the Western Railway (WR) said in a tweet earlier today.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is keeping a close watch on the situation in Mumbai and its neighbouring areas, following heavy rains.
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Also, people at some places were seen wading through waist-deep water.
On a related note, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson Sambit Patra and Maharashtra State Spokesperson Keshav Upadhye were seen wading through water while they were going to Mumbai BJP’s office in Dadar East earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, safety measures have been taken near all beaches. Lifeguard chairs have been arranged at all the six beaches for better visibility, along with a manual siren, public address system, ring boys and life jackets.