Domestic aviation services resumed at the city airport Thursday even as the country's financial and entertainment capital struggled to come back to normal after the worst rains in 100 years.

The torrential rains, which had turned the city into a virtual sea and killed over 200 people, had forced the Mumbai domestic and international airports to shut down Tuesday noon.

An Indian Airlines flight to Delhi IC 687 took off from the local airport at 1.30 p.m. Thursday after the authorities closely monitored all the navigation and ground handling equipments, said an aviation official.

The normal aviation service to and from the airport, one of the busiest in the country, is likely to resume by Friday, added the official.

Local trains, considered the lifeline of this city of 15 million people, resumed most services Thursday.

The resumption of normal operations of electric trains, used by a third of the city residents every day, has come as a major relief. Railway stations had become temporary shelters for thousands after train services were cancelled.

Shailendra Bhatnagar, spokesperson of Western Railway, said all the rail lines had been cleared for normal operations. "We will start full services in a phased manner over the next 24 hours," he said.

Mobile and landline telephone networks and power supply have been restored in most parts of the city.

The telephone network in Mumbai, home to the Reserve Bank of India, Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange, were completely snapped for two days.

Civic officials said their priority was to clear all the city's arterial roads of stranded vehicles, animal carcasses, and uprooted trees to ensure smooth movement of traffic.

The city, however, witnessed a deserted look as all government offices and banks were closed for the second consecutive day. The Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange were also shut, as were schools and colleges.

Mumbai streets routinely get submerged every monsoon, but this crisis was still unprecedented.

In Mumbai, some 215 deaths have been reported from different parts of the city. Among the worst affected areas were Bandra, Mahim, Matunga, Dadar, Santa Cruz, Byculla, Kurla, Ghatkopar, Mu@@@@@ Thane and Badlapur.

Over 400 people across Maharashtra have lost their lives.