At least 20 people have died after they got trapped under the rubble of their homes in Mumbai's Chembur and Vikhroli areas following heavy rains that lashed the city and its suburbs for several hours late Saturday night and early this morning. A red alert has been sounded and people have been advised not to venture out in the open. A ground-plus-one residential building collapsed in Vikhroli area in the morning hours of Sunday, killing three people, as per BMC, the city's municipal body.

Fifteen people have been rescued from Chembur's Bharat Nagar area and nine people from Vikroli's Surya Nagar, officials said, adding that those injured have been moved to nearby hospitals for medical attention. Rescue operation is still on in both these areas as more people are feared to be trapped, the official was quoted by NDTV as saying. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the loss of lives and announced a compensation of ₹ 2 lakh each to the families of those who died. "Rs. 50,000 would be given to those injured," his office said on Twitter.

Mumbai recorded 176.96 mm rain between 8 pm and 8 am, officials said, adding that the eastern suburbs recorded 204.07 mm and the western 195.48 mm, respectively.

The downpour caused heavy flooding in low-lying areas of Chunabhatti, Sion, Dadar, and Gandhi Market, Chembur and Kurla LBS Road.

The suburban train services - the lifeline of the financial capital - were suspended due to waterlogging in the tracks due to the overnight downpour.(SAM)