The incessant rains for the last four days battered Mumbai, leaving the most parts of the city inundated in knee-deep water and throwing normal life completely out of gear.
From Dadar to Matunga and Ghatkopar to Santacruz, roads turned into rivers, forcing people to use boats to navigate.
However, turning a blind eye to the plight of Mumbaikars, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Vinod Tawade, shockingly claimed that there was no situation of water logging in the ‘mega city’.
“Disaster Management has reported that there is no situation of water logging in Mumbai. Concerned authorities are keeping a track of the situation. There's nothing to worry as disaster management is ready to face any situation,†ANI quoted Tawde as saying.
Disaster Management has reported that there is no situation of water logging in Mumbai. Concerned authorities are keeping a track of the situation.There's nothing to worry as disaster management is ready to face any situation: Vinod Tawde, Maharashtra Minister on #MumbaiRain pic.twitter.com/nVXCCcJl0R
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2018
The statement from Tawde came at a time when most parts of the city were flooded due to heavy rains and some of the local trains were suspended while others were running late by 20-25 minutes due to waterlogged tracks.
Not just that, his own party member and BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra along with Maharashtra State Spokesperson Keshav Upadhye was also seen wading through knee-deep water, with shoes in hands, while heading towards BJP's Mumbai office in Dadar East.
BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra and Maharashtra State Spokesperson Keshav Upadhye seen wading through water while they were going to Mumbai BJP's office in Dadar East, earlier today. #MumbaiRains pic.twitter.com/wdlcOcnn2R
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2018
Meanwhile, NDRF and RPF team had been deployed to rescue passengers stranded between Nalasopara and Virar Railway stations. Extra buses are in service to take them to the nearest station for further communication by suburban services.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team rescued 1500 stranded passengers from Vadodara Express at Nala Sopara, earlier today. The operations has now concluded. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/9hYh1xK2hK
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2018
Food packets and water was also distributed among the passengers. A food special train between Mumbai Central to Naigaon was also operational for stranded passengers.
With heavy shower paralysing the local train services in the financial capital, Bombay High Court also asked the authority that why no measures taken when tracks go under water every monsoon.
As per the latest IMD predictions, the weather situation is expected to worsen heavy downpour over until Wednesday. There were also reports of high tide at Mumbai coast around 9:30 pm on Tuesday.