1 dead as rain paralyses Mumbai, schools shut today, more showers expected
Vehicular and rail traffic was back on track in Mumbai on Thursday morning after heavy rainfall battered.
The city and its neighbouring areas yesterday, which led to waterlogging in several areas, halting of local train services and diversion of 14 flights. Though the situation improved after the rain intensity reduced late in the night, more showers are expected till October 1.
Floodwaters receded in most of the affected areas and flight operations at Mumbai airport resumed. However, schools and colleges are closed on Thursday as the weather office issued an orange alert for Mumbai after a red alert was in place for the city till 8:30 am today.
Several areas of the city and its suburbs received over 100 mm of rainfall in over five hours on Wednesday evening, while a woman drowned in an overflowing drain due to heavy rain in suburban Andheri.
Eastern suburbs recorded the highest average rainfall of 169.85 mm between 8 am to 10 pm, followed by 169.85 mm of rain in the eastern suburbs and 104.17 mm in the western suburbs.
Mankhurd area in the eastern suburbs received the highest 276 mm of rainfall followed by 275 mm in Bhandup and 274 mm in Powai area. Sewri Koliwada and Wadala area in the island city witnessed the highest rainfall measuring over 145 mm while the highest rainfall recorded in the western suburbs was 190 mm.
The Central Railway said waterlogging was reported between Vidyavihar and Mulund on up and down slow lines, and on down lines between Bhandup and Nahur, resulting in trains travelling at 30 kmph, and leaving hundreds of commuters inconvenienced. On the other hand, Western Railway said local train services were running normally on its network.
Huge crowds were seen at several railway stations in the evening as commuters and office-goers were heading to their homes. The Central Railway had urged people to remain inside trains and avoid stepping onto the tracks.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Bhushan Gagrani ordered all assistant commissioners to ensure that respective executive engineers stay put in ward control rooms. He also directed chief engineers of the Stormwater Drains (SWD) department to ensure SWD staff are on the field and de-watering pumps are operational.
Heavy rain led to landslide at the Mumbra bypass road on Wednesday evening. However, no injuries were reported, said Fire Officer Swapnil Sarnobat. “The landslide occurred because of heavy rain going on since evening. The Mumbra bypass area is prone to landslides during rain. We received information around 9:30 pm about the incident. Rocks have been removed from the road,” he said.
Rain is predicted in Mumbai till October 1, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather office has issued an orange alert for Mumbai and a red alert for Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts on Thursday morning. A red alert is in place in Palghar on Friday (September 27).
Apart from Mumbai, schools and colleges were closed on Thursday in Thane, Palghar, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad following heavy rain and weather warnings in place. On the other hand, the Mumbai Police urged people to remain in their homes and not go out unless absolutely necessary.
IMD scientist Sushma Nair said a trough runs from north Konkan to south Bangladesh across a cyclonic circulation over south Chhattisgarh and its neighbourhood extending to the middle tropospheric level tilting southwards with height. “This will lead to fairly widespread to widespread light/moderate rainfall over Konkan and Goa during the week,” she said.
A 45-year-old woman, identified as Vimal Anil Gaikwad, drowned in an overflowing drain due to heavy rain and waterlogging in suburban Andheri. Her body was recovered in about an hour. In another rain-related incident, three people died due to lightning in Thane.