The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday, 23 September, declared it a holiday for all private and government establishments, except emergency services, after severe waterlogging and heavy rainfall in many parts of Mumbai, ANI reported. The Commissioner has appealed to the public to come out of their homes only if necessary, the report said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court has declared a holiday on Wednesday owing to the heavy rainfall.
Heavy rainfall hit parts of Mumbai on the night of Tuesday, causing waterlogging in parts of the city such as Bhendi Bazar, Gol Temple, Nana Chowk, Mumbai Central Junction, Bawla Compound, J J Junction, Hindmata, Kala Chowky, Sarthi Bar, Worli Sea Face among other locations.
Due to the waterlogging, local trains between Churchgate and Andheri have been cancelled, while some long-distance special trains between Virar and Andheri have been rescheduled as of Wednesday morning.
Train services on Central and Harbour lines were suspended at about 5 am on Wednesday. Trains on the Western Railway lines however, continue to operate.
Mumbai's public bus service operator BEST has cancelled or diverted its operations in several routes.
"Heavy rains have been reported from Mumbai and Thane suburbs in last 12 hours with some places recording 150 mm plus rainfall," said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general of meteorology, IMD, according to IANS.
Mumbaikars took to social media to post pictures and videos that showed waterlogging in various areas.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), suburban Mumbai received actual rainfall of 23.4 mm on Tuesday, a departure of 129 percent from the normal rainfall. The weather department has predicted that Mumbai will see “generally cloudy sky with heavy rain” on Wednesday.
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