Friday, July 29 2005 15:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Three days after devastating rainfall brought the country's commercial capital to a halt, life in the metropolis returned to normal today (July 29, 2005) while rescue operations continued in Thane and worst-hit Raigad districts of Maharashtra even as the toll in monsoon fury crossed 680 in the state.

Mumbai and the suburbs bore the maximum brunt in the century's worst rainfall with about 400 dying, in Thane district over 175 were killed while in Navi Mumbai and Raigad 110 rain-related deaths were reported, official sources said here today (July 29, 2005).

Long-distance train services, outbound and inbound both on the Western Railway have resumed while on the Central Railway, all out-bound trains have been cancelled till tomorrow morning, railway sources said adding, suburban trains on Central line are running upto Kalyan.

Mumbai airport, which remained closed for three days after the runway was submerged in rainwater, has resumed both domestic and international flights today, airport sources said.

Rescue operations at Saki Naka in north-west Mumbai, where several people died in a massive landslide, are still on, fire brigade sources said adding, many more bodies are still feared trapped under the debris.

Rescue operations in landslide-hit Jui village in Raigad district continued throughout the day yesterday.

The situation in other parts of the state is improving with a little respite in rains, state control room sources said.

In Nanded district, where Godavari river was flowing above the danger mark and submerged 20 villages around Nanded prompting 10,000 people living along the river bank to shift to safer places, flood water is receding today and the relief work is on in full swing, Nanded District authorities said.

Four persons died in the district since July 26 while three persons were washed away, the authorities added.

Situation in Pune and Kolhapur district is also improving, they said adding, "however, we are taking still precaution."

Vehicular movement was restored on Bombay-Ahmedabad highway and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the sources said adding, with lesser rains since yesterday, the other roads are being cleared.