Heavy rains in India killed 87

The strongest rain ever recorded in India shut down the financial hub Bombay, snapped communication lines, closed airports and marooned thousands of people.

As many as 87 people were reported killed and another 130 were feared buried in landslides.

Troops were deployed after the sudden rains measuring up to 94.4 centimeters (37.1 inches) in one day in suburban Bombay stranded tens of thousands of people.

"Most places in India don't receive this kind of rainfall in a year. This is the highest ever recorded in India's history," R.V. Sharma, director of the meteorological department in Bombay, told the AP. "We have to compare it with world records to find out if this was the highest in the world."

Early Wednesday the army, navy and home guards had been called to help with relief.