The heavy downpour being witnessed in the metropolis and surrounding areas since the weekend — resulted in massive inundation in low-lying areas — threw suburban train services and air traffic out of gear, while the traffic on the Mumbai-Goa Highway remained badly affected for the second consecutive day on Monday.
Heavy rains continued to batter Mumbai and adjoining areas of Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan, Palghar and neighbouring coastal Konkan region. Such was the high intensity of rains that during the six-hour period between 1 am and 7 am on Monday, several of the rain catchment areas like Powari received 300 mm of rainfall.
The Powai Lake — one of the major water-supplying lakes of Mumbai — started overflowing during the day.
Considered the lifelines of Mumbai, the suburban train services of Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) were badly hit as the railway track remained thick sheets of water, affecting the operation for the better part of the day. The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) deployed pumps at several places to clear flood water in low-lying areas in the metropolis.
More than 50 flights were cancelled, while 27 were diverted from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai.
“Heavy traffic congestion and slow vehicle movement are expected en route to Mumbai airport today due to weather conditions. Customers are advised to allow more time for their journey to the airport,” airline Vistara said in an announcement made earlier in the day.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for coastal Ratnagiri district, while it has sounded an orange alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Sindhudurg district.
Heavy to very heavy rains have been predicted in Mumbai, Thane and adjoining coastal Konkan region.
Meanwhile, the country’s commercial capital has been reeling under very heavy rains since 1 am on Monday. “Mumbai has recorded over 300 mm rainfall at various places during the hour period from 1 am to 7 am today. Heavy rains resulted in severe inundation in low-lying areas. Since there was flooding on tracks at several places, suburban train services were badly affected, ”a senior BMC official said.
Amid pouring rains, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the State Disaster Control Room and BMC’s Disaster Management office to make a first-hand assessment of the situation.
"Unlike in the past, it has rained a lot in less time which is more than the city’s carrying capacity. As a result, there was a water-logging on railway tracks and roads. Traffic has now resumed on all roads. Senior officials are present at all water-logging-prone spots in the city. The State Disaster Management Authority, NDRF, BMC are on alert,” Shinde said.
“There is movement of vehicles on Eastern and Western express highways and all railway lines. NDRF teams have reached all three coastal districts in the state. Army, Navy and Air Force are also on alert,” Shinde said.
Following heavy rains, the Maharashtra government declared a holiday for government and private schools and colleges in the metropolis.
During a 22-hour period from 8 am Sunday ( July 7) to 6 am Monday ( July 8 2024), the Island city of Mumbai recorded an average 110.10 mm rainfall, while the eastern suburbs and western suburbs had 150.53 mm rainfall and 146.35 mm, respectively.
*At 8.30 am, owing to water logging at various places, train services on Main line Down & Up Fast line between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus *CSMT)- Thane were suspended. However, Down & Up slow lines were running,” a central Railway spokesperson said.
“At 9.30 am, the Harbour line services were temporarily suspended due to water-logging at Chunabhatti,” the CR spokesperson said.
The WR suburban trains ran behind schedule due to heavy water-logging between Matunga Road and Dadar stations. "High capacity water pumps are being used to drain water away from the railway tracks to ensure a smooth commute for Mumbaikars,” a Western Railway official said.
Since Sunday the authorities have rescued more than 200 marooned people to safer areas in Thane-Palghar region.
