Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) At least four people were killed as heavy rains lashed various parts of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane district Thursday and Friday, officials said here Saturday.

Low-lying areas of northern Mumbai, including Santacruz, Khar and Andheri, were inundated, inconveniencing thousands of people. Some parts of adjacent Thane district also faced severe flooding following the incessant rains.

Several parts of Thane city and parts of the district, including Nalasopara, Vasai and Virar, remained submerged under sheets of water since Friday night. The residents of the areas had to be shifted to safer locations like schools and temples, municipal officials said.

The Bhatan Bridge that connects Virar township to around 30 villages was completely submerged under water, cutting all contact with the villages.

Chaina river also witnessed heavy flooding and two men were drowned, police said. "The body of one man has been found and we are still searching for the other," a police official said.

The townships of Bhiwandi, Kalyan and other low-lying areas of Thane district reported continuous showers and flooding in the regions with rivers overflowing. The water level in various dams in the district has also witnessed a steep rise with two of them crossing the storage level.

In the Khaghar township of Navi Mumbai, two school children drowned near a waterfall in the heavy rains. Police and fire brigade officials are searching for their bodies.

Thane district has recorded a rainfall of 250mm since Friday, while north Mumbai has witnessed more than 150 mm rainfall in the same period. South Mumbai has also witnessed close to 50 mm rain.

According to weather officials, intermittent rain and thundershowers are likely to occur in many parts of the city and suburbs Sunday. They also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas of the city.