Heavy rains throw life out of gear in Mumbai

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Heavy rains lashed most of Mumbai on Tuesday, flooding the city's low-lying areas and throwing normal life out of gear, officials and witnesses said on Tuesday.

Water level at the the city's main Mithi river rose above the danger mark, while services on the city's crucial railway lines were shut down after incessant rains since Monday night.

"Some people in the central suburbs have been evacuated and the Mithi river has crossed the danger mark," Jairaj Pathak, chief of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the civic body, told Reuters.

"We expect the high tide to come in at 4.15 p.m., after which the water is likely to recede. People should not panic."

Services on local trains, often referred to as Mumbai's lifeline were paralysed, an official said and most outstation trains had been rescheduled.

Flights in and out of Mumbai were also delayed, but an airport spokesperson said there had been no cancellations so far.

Several low lying areas, including the commercial district of Parel were flooded.

Television channels showed images of people wading through knee deep water and flooded railway tracks.

A Reuters staffer travelling to the suburbs said there were traffic jams all along the Western Express Highway, which connects the western suburbs to Mumbai city.