The National Disaster Response Force was brought in to evacuate stranded train passengers at Nalasopara station in Mumbai as heavy rain continued to lash the city on Tuesday. The disaster response force rescued 450 passengers stuck in the Vadodara Express between Virar and Nalasopara stations, Mid-Day reported.

In Vasai in Palghar district, the force was attempting to rescue over stranded 400 salt pan workers and their families.

In Navi Mumbai, a trailer skidded off the road and landed on the terrace of a power supply station. A tree fell on two parked cars at St Paul’s Road in Bandra.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government was keeping a “close watch” on the situation in Mumbai and neighbouring areas, especially in Palghar district. He told the Assembly that suction pumps were working at full capacity to drain water from the streets, and that an additional 150 pumps have been deployed.

Earlier in the day, Minister for School Education Vinod Tawde instructed authorities to ensure that schools in Thane and Palghar districts remain closed. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state will consider extending the date of admissions for college courses if necessary, reported the Hindustan Times.

In the last 24 hours, Mumbai city has received 165.8 mm of rain, while Mumbai suburbs received 184.3 mm of rain till 8.30 am Monday, ANI reported. The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in a few places and extremely heavy rain in isolated spots along the Konkan coast and Goa till Saturday.

Cracks were spotted on Saket bridge, along Bhiwandi bypass on Mumbai-Nashik Highway, reported Hindustan Times. One lane of the bridge which connects Kalyan to Mumbai and Thane was closed on Tuesday.

Streets at Gandhi Market, Sion Panvel Highway, Chembur, and Vadala were waterlogged. A few houses in Palghar were flooded. Four people were injured after a tanker overturned and fell on an autorickshaw at Kongaon on the Bhiwandi bypass road.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation advised residents not to listen to rumours of a cyclone, reported Firstpost.

In Navi Mumbai, a trailer skidded off the road and landed on the terrace of a power supply station.

Trains and flights delayed

Suburban services of the Western Railway stopped on Tuesday, but services between Churchgate and Borivali and Bhayander and Churchgate were operational, though delayed, PTI reported. Train services between Vasai Road and Virar, and Bhayander and Virar were suspended due to water logging on the tracks, Western Railway said in a tweet.

Several trains were cancelled at Mumbai Central railway station due to flooded tracks.

Local trains were running at a delay of 30-40 minutes on the Central lines in the afternoon, Central Railway said in a tweet. They were 25-30 minutes late on the harbour line but on time on the trans-harbour line. The Pune-Mumbai Deccan Express and Indrayani Express, as well as both trains running in the opposite direction, were cancelled.

The Bombay High Court pulled up Central and Western Railway for stoppage of services due to waterlogging. “The Central and Western Railway have not done anything,” the court said according to ANI. “Even after so many years, suburban railway tracks are submerged in rains. Why can’t you raise the height of tracks to avoid flooding?”

An Air India flight from Vijayawada to Mumbai overshot the runway, though it landed safely. “Now Air India Express’ engineering team is inspecting the aircraft at Mumbai airport. All passengers are safe,” Air India Express Chief Executive Officer KS Sunder told ANI.

Western Railway said all catering stalls at the stations have been asked to stock up food items. Snacks, water and tea have been made available for passengers with the help of NGOs, it added.

The incessant rain also led to delays at the Mumbai airport – 318 departing flights were delayed by around 53 minutes while 84 arriving flights were around 26 minutes late, according to Hindustan Times. Jet Airways said they will not be charging a penalty for date and flight changes for travellers who’ve booked their tickets to and from Mumbai on Tuesday.