today

In Mumbai the monsoon rains left behind a trail of water-logged roads as air and train services were delayed, and five people were killed in separate incidents of building collapse. Several parts of Lower Parel and Lalbaug, in central Mumbai, and areas like Andheri and Juhu in the south were water logged due to the incessant rains.

The met office said south Mumbai received 200 mm rain since Saturday evening. The suburbs recorded over 55 mm rain.

Rain also caused devastation in Sangli in western Maharashtra, where scores of mud huts have been washed away and one person was killed by lightning. In Nasik, four people died after being struck by lightning.

Mumbai and neighbouring areas bore the brunt of the monsoon fury that claimed five lives in the last 24 hours and the weather office said "heavy to very heavy" rains accompanied by gusty winds will continue to hit the metropolis.

Several flights from the city were delayed and rail traffic disrupted. A partially demolished building collapsed in the Grant Road area in south Mumbai last evening killing two persons, while three persons died in two incidents of wall collapse on Sunday.

Eleven crew members of a barge carrying sponge iron were reported missing after it sank at the Khanderi island in neighbouring Raigad district, police said.

The Met department has forecast heavy rains and thunder showers for the next 48 hours in Mumbai and its suburbs. When contacted the Mayor, Dr Shubha Raul, said, "The situation is under control and wherever we expected that water would log, we made necessary arrangements. We have set about 200 pumps all over Mumbai which will soak water and will be thrown in the adjacent nullahs ."