India, July 5 -- Large parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) turned into a waterlogged maze on Saturday as torrential rain pounded Thane, Navi Mumbai and Vasai-Virar. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert, incessant downpours over the past 24 hours left thousands stranded, submerged low-lying areas, paralysed traffic, disrupted train services, triggered tree and wall collapses, and turned pothole-ridden roads into a commuter's nightmare.

Among the worst-hit stretches were the Mumbra-Panvel Road at Shilphata, Diva, Saket in Thane, and parts of Kalyan, Ambernath, Bhiwandi and Dombivli, where severe waterlogging slowed traffic to a crawl. Even the approach roads to the ancient Ambernath Shiv Temple went ...