Mumbai Rains: Mumbai Metro comes to city's rescue, adds additional services to cater to passengers

While several modes of transport like the suburban local train, bus, auto and taxi came to a standstill owing to heavy rains and water-logged streets, Mumbai Metro ran additional services to between Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro-1 corridor.

According to Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), that operates Metro-1, as several offices were shut early, crowd gathered at Metro stations during non-peak hours.

MMOPL said that it had run additional Metro services to cater the footfall due to heavy rains.

Earlier in the day, MMOPL tweeted, "With Mumbai's trademark rains giving us their best, so are we at #MumbaiMetro! Still running on schedule just like our beloved city!"

MMOPL runs Metro at a frequency of 4 minutes during peak hours and eight minutes during non-peak hours.

One of the main reasons behind Metro seeing more crowd is because Metro was the only transport connecting western Mumbai to the Central in the absense of services on Western Railway and Central Railway being suspended. Many commuters also took Twitter thanking MMOPL for running on time Metro services during heavy rains.

With Mumbai's trademark rains giving us their best, so are we at #MumbaiMetro! Still running on schedule just like our beloved city!

— Mumbai Metro (@MumMetro) August 29, 2017

.@MumMetro running but huge rush at Ghatkopar station #MumbaiRains by @OzarkarVallabh pic.twitter.com/kvsnHa5eDR

— DNA (@dna) August 29, 2017

#MumbaiMetro or #VirarLocal? Wish the frequency of trains are increased #MumbaiRains pic.twitter.com/1YTUmAMPLW

— CrimZin DeSouza (@crmznize) August 29, 2017

Rush at MumbaiMetro Station GHATKOPAR pic.twitter.com/MZuX1zH13x

— Voice of Ghatkopar (@VOGNewsLive) August 29, 2017

Suburban services were disrupted with trains on all the three lines - western, central and harbour - running late.

Water-logging on tracks was reported in Andheri and Bandra, civic officials said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the situation was well under control and advised the citizens to step out of their homes only if necessary.

"The metropolis has received heavy rainfall since last night. Between 8.30 am and 12 pm today, the city received 85 mm rainfall," Sudhir Naik, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, told PTI.

"Step out of homes only if it is too important because water-logging has been reported from several parts of the city," he said.

Naik, however, added things were well under control and senior civic officials were keeping a close watch on the situation.

"Due to water logging on tracks & point failure at Bandra following very heavy rains, 3 lines except UP Fast line are affected. Efforts are on to start traffic on 3 lines (except UP fast line) at Bandra as soon as possible by attending the points," the Western Railway tweeted.

According to an official from the BMC's Disaster Management Cell, "There have been reports of water-logging in Dadar, Andheri, Worli, Kurla and Sakinaka, among other areas.

We have received 20 cases of tree falling and one of a wall collapse."

"Despite heavy downpour, no untoward incident has been reported so far," said the official.

Commuters were stranded at some places.

"Stuck in a local train between two stations #MumbaiRains no announcements if the train will go ahead. utter #chaos," Vidya Kumar, a passenger stranded at Bandra station for over an hour, tweeted by tagging @RailMinIndia @drmbct.

Actor-turned-entrepreneur Gul Panag tweeted, "Brace yourself Mumbai. Heavy rain coming. Plan ahead. Stay safe."

With inputs from PTI