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INDIA-RAINFALL
Heavy rains disrupt flights, trains in India’s Mumbai
NEW DELHI, June 9, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – Heavy rains lashed India’s
financial capital Mumbai Saturday, disrupting flights and local train
services, officials said.
“Flights from Mumbai airport have been hit badly. Some 12 international
flights have been delayed and at least two cancelled. More than 10 domestic
flights were also delayed due to rains,” an aviation official said.
A railway official said that local trains – the lifeline of Mumbai – have
been affected by rains too. “Most of the trains are running late by 15
minutes due to heavy rains,” he said.
Local TV channels showed footage of some low-lying areas of Mumbai
waterlogged, leading to slow movement of vehicles there.
To caution commuters, the Mumbai Police have urged commuters to drive
slowly. “You surely don’t want your vehicle & you lying like that on the
road, in the rains! The roads are slippery … Please drive extra carefully.
Decrease speed, increase cautiousness,” it tweeted.
Mumbai’s civic body has advised people to stay indoors and cancelled the
leaves of all emergency officials to deal with the situation, while the
weather department has warned fishermen not to venture out in the seas off
the city’s coast.
“We are taking all precautions to ensure that all citizens are safe to
ensure no repeat of 2005,” said a civic official.
Several people died in July 2005 when large parts of Mumbai got flooded
following 24 hours of heavy rains.
BSS/XINHUA/ARS/1525 hrs