Heavy downpour in Singapore caused the disruption of train services along the North-South line (NSL) as water entered the MRT tunnels, from Bishan to Braddell stations. Trains were halted from Saturday evening till further notice.
An update from Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT), on Sunday morning, stated that the water has almost been cleared by its efforts, in collaboration with the Singapore Civil Defence Force, PUB, and Land Transport Authority.
Previously, SMRT's Facebook post, on Sunday, October 8, read that train services between Newton and Ang Mo Koi are still suspended in both directions. They have asked for more time to return to normalcy.
Train services are now ongoing between Jurong East to Ang Mo Kio and Newton to Marina South Pier. The commuters are seen taking bus services to bridge the gap between stations.
The train services were stopped on Saturday after heavy rain since the afternoon caused the tracks to flood, affecting thousands of commuters along that stretch. A small fire also broke out in the tunnel between Marina Bay and Raffles Place, however, it was doused before the SCDF could arrive. The situation looks grim as the NEA has predicted heavy rainfall even on Sunday.
13 stations have been affected in the train line, which has 26 stations altogether. Bus and bridging services have somewhat reduced the woes of the locals. Such a situation has occurred before, but train services were never interrupted as MRT tunnels have in-built pumps to expel water.
Meanwhile, the monsoon menace is not expected to leave Singapore soon. Heavy downpour, along with warnings by NEA of more rain through Sunday, has had the locals worried.
Paya Lebar Road and Leng Kee Road were almost flooded when the canals registered more than 90 percent water on Saturday afternoon. However, no major flood as yet been reported.
