Two military helicopters and six boats of the National Disaster Response Force were sent in to rescue as many as 900 people stranded on board a passenger train about 60 km out of Mumbai on Saturday after heavy rain paralysed the city and its surrounding areas. Hundreds of passengers on the Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express, stuck on the train near Vangani in Thane district since Friday night, appealed for help with videos shot on cellphones on social media.
Air and rail traffic was disrupted in Mumbai after heavy rain continued overnight. Eleven flights were cancelled this morning at the Mumbai airport due to fluctuating visibility. Several flights were diverted too. On streets, residents waded through waist-deep water in many areas.
The weather office has issued an "orange alert" for Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts in Maharashtra and has also predicted heavy rainfall in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai in the next 24 hours. The "orange alert" signifies that authorities should get ready for necessary action.