Mumbai:Heavy rainfall expected, IMD issues red alert
MUMBAI/ THANE : Continuous rains lashed Mumbai and its surrounding areas on Saturday and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said more heavy rainfall is expected in the metropolis during the next 24 hours, prompting authorities to declare a holiday in schools and colleges.
Thousands were stranded at railway stations across Mumbai after incessant rains flooded railway tracks in the city and its surrounding areas today, amid predictions by the India Meteorological Department that the weather situation will only get worse in the next 24 to 36 hours.
Rain also led to waterlogging on railway tracks, affecting the movement of trains on the Thane and Panvel sections of the Central Railway and leaving thousands of passengers stranded in various stations. They were provided shelter and refreshments by the BMC.
At least three people were killed in separate rain-related incidents in the state on Saturday.The IMD cautioned people, saying heavy rainfall warning on a “very-high-tide day” (Saturday) is “not a good combination”.
In neighbouring Thane and Palghar districts, heavy rains disrupted normal life. One person was electrocuted in Thane city while another suffered serious injuries after the roof of a bakery collapsed in Mumbra in the district, officials said.
Earlier, four girls from a college in Navi Mumbai’s Nerul were washed away at the famous Pandavkada waterfall in the afternoon. The bodies of two students have been recovered while two others are still missing. The unceasing downpour in Palghar district prompted authorities to declare a holiday for educational institutions on Saturday.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation issued an advisory asking Mumbai residents to not venture into the sea or in water-logged areas in view of the IMD warning. “The IMD gave a warning of extremely heavy rainfall for the next 24 hours from 1 pm on August 3. Citizens should avoid venturing around sea also at water-logged areas,” the civic body said in a statement.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in a tweet said that a holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in the city. Deputy Director-General of Meteorology (IMD Mumbai) KS Hosalikar tweeted that intense rainfall is expected in Mumbai, Thane and Navy Mumbai in the coming 24-36 hours.
“The highest high tide of the four monsoon months is also today of 4.90 metres at afternoon, exactly during the period when IMD has forecast intense rains for the city. Heavy rainfall warnings on very high tide day in Mumbai is not a good combination. Please avoid outing, beaches,” he said in another tweet.
Overnight rains in Mumbai and its suburbs led to water-logging in several areas. Water-logging on tracks disrupted the suburban train services, as locals of the Central and Harbour routes were running behind schedule by 15 minutes.
In the afternoon, the services between Kurla and Sion were suspended due to rise in water level and high tide. However, flight operations at the Mumbai airport were not impacted, an airport official said.
“Overnight heavy rains in Mumbai and its adjoining areas has led to water-logging at some paces, which has affected the flow of traffic, especially in parts of Malad, Andheri and Dahisar,” a senior official of the BMC said. Chief spokesperson of the Central Railway, Sunil Udasi, said suburban trains were running with “cautious speed”.
“Due to high tide and water level increase, suburban services between Kurla-Sion and between Kurla-Chunabhatti on the Harbour line have been suspended,” he said.Mumbai police advised people to take precautions.
“As per the weather forecast, intense spells of rain likely to continue in the next 4 hrs and heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 24 hrs. We request Mumbaikars to take adequate precautions & ensure safety. Dial 100 in case of any emergency. Take care Mumbai,” it tweeted.
Due to overnight rainfall in Thane district, roads and nullahs in some area were flooded. The rainwater entered a few housing societies and swept away vehicles, officials said.
Low-lying areas in Thane city were affected the most and parking areas were flooded. Schools in Thane declared a holiday due to heavy rains. Buses and autos were not plying due to flooding, the officials said.
In Palghar district, several villages were marooned as the roads connecting them were flooded. A video showed some cattle getting swept away in the water.Palghar District Collector Kailas Shinde said the weather department has forecast heavy rains on Saturday and Sunday. He said a holiday was declared for all the educational institutions in the district.
Four college students picnicking at a waterfall near Pandavkada hills in Navi Mumbai were swept away in the strong current earlier today. While the body of a student was recovered, the other three are still missing.
“Mumbai seems to be under siege in typhoon-like conditions. There’s a deluge where I am now, but we’re still well above water; I suspect many parts of the city aren’t. Any visual updates from around the city?” Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra tweeted.
In another incident, a 1,478-tonne cargo ship from Hazira, Gujarat, went adrift due to the heavy rains before being washed on the rocky shores of Vangaon village in Palghar. All the crew members were reported safe.
Chaotic scenes are common in Mumbai during the monsoon season. The city had witnessed the second-highest rainfall for the month of July in the last 60 years, with the Santacruz and Colaba observatories recording 1,464.8 mm and 1,175.1 mm respectively.
(With Agency Inputs ).
