MUMBAI (Reuters) – Authorities in India’s financial capital Mumbai have resumed suburban rail services for the first time in more than a year, bringing relief to the millions that depend on them, as the pace of infections declined.
The thriving metropolis in the largest industrial state of Maharashtra, saw a peak of 11,000 daily cases a day at the height of the second wave in May-June, but new cases have fallen after stringent lockdown curbs, with overnight infections dropping to 267 new cases and four deaths on Sunday.
Only those who were fully vaccinated were allowed on board trains from Sunday, while parks, seafronts and playgrounds were allowed to stay open for all until 2200 IST, from the previous closing hours of 1600 IST, the city’s civic body said.
Previously, only essential workers were allowed to use the trains.
(Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Barbara Lewis)
