As rains subside, Mumbai returns to ‘normalcy’ with crowded trains, congested roads
The excessive 375.2 mm rainfall had widely affected train and bus services on Tuesday, all of which resumed on Wednesday morning (Picture Courtesy: @iyer1968 & @LavishPatodi)
After two days of torrential downpour, the country’s financial capital limped back to normalcy on Wednesday morning as rains subsided and public transport services resumed.
At 375.2 mm, the rainfall in the 24-hour period before 8.30 am on Tuesday was the highest since the July 26, 2005, deluge in Mumbai.
It had widely affected train and bus services while several flights had to be diverted from Mumbai airport and others were delayed for hours.
A senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official on Wednesday said that with respite from incessant showers, there was no more waterlogging in any part of the city and suburban trains and BEST buses were running according to schedule.
Out of 3,203 buses, 2,950 were plying on roads, a BEST spokesperson said.
The break from persistent rains also led to a drop in water levels and clearer roads, allowing traffic movement to resume. However, stretches on both Eastern & Western Express Highways, LBS Marg, Kalina, Juhu Tara Road, and others remained congested.
“तुझ”से नाराज नही “मुंबई”, हैरान हूँ मै!
More than 3 hours from Thane to Andheri which is a 45-50 mins commute without traffic..#Mumbaitraffic @RoadsOfMumbai @MumbaiPolice @ThaneCityPolice @mumbaitraffic @MumbaiTraffics pic.twitter.com/l9zwMSGYxx— APDontist (@APDONTIST) July 3, 2019
The Central Railway has decided to operate its suburban services in Mumbai division on Sunday timetable, which means it will ply fewer trains, compared to weekdays when trains are run in full capacity.
“In view of IMD forecast of very heavy rainfall coupled with high tide on Wednesday, Central Railway will run suburban services on July 3 in Mumbai Division as per Sunday timetable,” chief spokesperson of Central Railway Sunil Udasi said, adding that special suburban services would be operated if the need arises.
Fortunately, Western Railway’s services were normal, giving much respite to commuters.
However, railway stations on both CR and WR saw excessive overcrowding during peak hour as lakhs of Mumbaikars took to local trains for their daily commute. A few minutes of delay only worsened their woes.
This is what Sunday timetable could do on a Wednesday. This was apparently the situation at #Diva station today morning. Idea of @drmmumbaicr to run trains as per Sunday timetable seemingly worsened the situation at rly stns @mumbairailusers @Parsikpravasi @MumRail #MumbaiRains https://t.co/xRR5sIwixg pic.twitter.com/tQ2dv1dl5E
— Shashank (@Shashankrao06) July 3, 2019
Meanwhile, no major accidents were reported on Wednesday, except a fire in an electric meter box at Tagore Nagar in suburban Vikhroli (E) in which two people suffered burn injuries and had to be admitted to Sion Hospital.
