High tide likely to make situation worse in water clogged Mumbai (lead: Mumai rain

The normal life, which has been paralysed in Mumbai due to the incessant rain, could further worsen, as a high tide of about four metres is expected to hit the coastline today evening.

Mumbai, June 30 : The normal life, which has been paralysed in Mumbai due to the incessant rain, could further worsen, as a high tide of about four metres is expected to hit the coastline today evening.

People have been forced to remain indoors and the weather department has forecast that rain would continue to lash India's financial capital for next couple of days.

City's low-lying areas of Matunga, Sion, Bandra, Andheri, Wadla, Worli, Chembur, Lower Parel, Borivali continued to remain submerged in water.

"All these chronic spots and low-lying areas are being manned. But the fact remains we can't take out the water anywhere because of high level of the sea --that becomes the limitation," said Shrikant Singh, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

The meteorological department has said that 395mm of rainfall has already taken place, since today morning when rain started pouring in.

Rail, road and air traffic have been disrupted in the city.

The runway of the Mumbai airport has been flooded and the flight services have been suspended till water gets cleared.

"They have confirmed that my flight is cancelled but they have not provided any transportation to go back, or arranged any hotel for us. They are also refusing to keep our luggage at the Airport," said Ravi Fernando, a passenger.

Local train services have also been disrupted, and the traffic is moving slowly in the roads.

According to the BBC weather, however, Sunday could bring relief to Mumbaikars as there is a possibility of light rainfall, but there could be heavy showers accompanied with thunderstorms and lightning stored for Monday.

"The streets are flooded. Cars cannot move on the roads," said Ram Vilas, a Mumbai resident.

According to some media reports, at least 50 people died in the rains in Maharashtra over the past three days.

Army has been called to carry out the relief and rescue operations in the State.

Rains have also affected other cities in Maharashtra, Central India and Andhra Pradesh.

In Chhattisgarh capital, Raipur, 14 hours of continuous rains due to a depression in the Bay of Bengal has hit the city hard and nine people have died in the rain.

Most of the areas are flooded and many residents have complained of water entering their homes in low-lying areas.

"It has been raining continuously since last night. In the morning the water started entering our homes and now everything has submerged," said K S Joy, a Raipur resident.

Meteorological department says a further depression has been forecast and more heavy rains are expected in the next 48 hours.

Monsoon rains have killed at least 150 people across the country and rendered many homeless, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

ANI