Mumbai limps back to normalcy as BEST buses, Central Railways resume services; BMC says no more water logging in city

Mumbai: India’s financial capital limped back to normalcy Wednesday morning with public transport resuming services after torrential rains, that lashed the city since Sunday, subsided. At 375.2 mm, the rainfall in the 24-hour period before 8.30 am Tuesday was the highest since the July 26, 2005, deluge in Mumbai. [caption id=“attachment_6920791” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A suburban local train wades across submerged railway tracks following heavy monsoon rains, in Mumbai. PTI[/caption] 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 (BMC) official on Wednesday said that with respite from incessant showers, since there was no more water logging in any part of the city and suburban trains and Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) buses are running according to schedule. According to a BEST spokesperson, out of 3,203 buses, 2,950 were plying on roads. The Central Railway has decided to operate its suburban services in Mumbai division on Sunday time table, 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 the high tide on Wednesday, Central Railway will run suburban services on 3 July in Mumbai Division as per Sunday timetable,” the chief spokesperson of Central Railway Sunil Udasi said. Special suburban services will be operated if the need arises, he said. However, Western Railway’s services were normal, giving much respite to commuters. No major accidents were reported on Wednesday, except a fire in an electric meter box at Tagore Nagar in suburban Vikhroli (E). A BMC spokesperson said two persons suffered burn injuries in the incident and have been admitted to Sion Hospital.