Mumbai, July 6 (IANS) Maharashtra’s State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) on Monday advised private establishments in Mumbai to allow employees to work from home wherever possible and directed non-essential government offices to function for only half a day, as heavy rainfall continued to batter the state amid a red alert.

The SDMA further stated, “A Red/Orange alert has been issued for some districts in the Konkan/coastal areas during 6-7 July. Avoid unnecessary travel, roads under water, waterfalls, and ghat sections. Call on Helplines 112, 1070, and1077 in case of emergency.”

The Bombay High Court Registrar General has issued an office order which reads, “ As directed by the Acting Chief Justice, all Ministerial officers and staff of the High Court who live in distant areas and are unable to attend office today due to heavy rains will not be marked absent.”

Torrential rains have wreaked havoc across Maharashtra, causing widespread waterlogging in several areas and triggering flood-like situations in multiple districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘Red Alert’ for several cities today, including Mumbai, while other regions remain under an ‘Orange Alert’.

The unrelenting downpour has cast a dark shadow of flood threats over Raigad, Chiplun, and Ratnagiri. Commuter transit between Mumbai and Pune has ground to a complete halt. A massive landslide on the newly constructed ‘Missing Link’ — designed to make the Mumbai-Pune commute smoother — has totally blocked vehicular traffic.

The heavy spell has also severely crippled Mumbai’s lifeline, the local train network. Mumbai is witnessing absolute chaos due to the relentless rain. Heavy downpours accompanied by gusty winds have severely disrupted local train operations, causing immense inconvenience to daily commuters and office-goers heading out for work.

The state, including Mumbai, has been battered by continuous heavy rainfall over the last two to three days. While the initial showers brought much-needed relief to citizens suffering from the sweltering heat, the non-stop downpour has now turned into a major hazard. Incidents of severe waterlogging, uprooted trees, and landslides are being reported across various regions.

On Monday morning, another intense spell of rain led to landslides on both the Mumbai-Pune Highway and vital railway tracks, completely paralysing transportation. Multiple trains operating between Mumbai and Pune have been cancelled, while several others have been diverted via alternative routes.

To add to the commuters’ woes, train services between Karjat and Khopoli have been temporarily suspended, leaving passengers stranded and highly frustrated.

The continuous heavy downpour and the resulting fierce water currents washed away the ballast (stone bedding) beneath the railway tracks between Karjat and Khopoli. Fortunately, alert railway employees noticed the damage in the nick of time and immediately reported it to higher authorities. As a precautionary safety measure, train services on the Karjat-Khopoli section were instantly suspended.

According to official sources, the railway administration has rushed necessary manpower and heavy machinery to the spot on a war footing to restore the tracks. Officials stated that services will only resume once the route is declared completely safe for operations.

The monsoon has dealt a severe blow to the suburban railway network. With the Mumbai-Pune connectivity entirely snapped, local trains on both Up and Down lines are running at least 15 minutes behind schedule.

A massive crowd of stranded passengers has gathered at Central Railway’s Kalyan station. Due to delays and sudden schedule changes, widespread confusion and resentment have spread among commuters, leading to long queues at inquiry counters. On the Western line, waterlogging between Vasai Road and Virar stations has caused suburban local trains to run 15 to 20 minutes late. The railway administration has issued an advisory urging passengers to plan their journeys accordingly and factor in additional travel time before stepping out of their homes.

In a further blow to commuters, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has suspended its Mumbai-Pune ST bus services. Top officials of the state transport corporation have issued orders to halt all operations until further notice. With both train services and state transport buses completely shut down, lakhs of commuters traveling between the two major cities face severe hardship.

–IANS

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