Mumbai: Heavy showers sweep city; IMD issues yellow alert for Tuesday

Intensity of showers gathered pace on Monday morning with several pockets such as Borivali, Andheri, Dadar, among others experiencing heavy downpour. Between 8.30am and 5.30pm on Monday, the IMD station in Colaba station recorded 21.4mm rain while the Santacruz station received 13mm rainfall.

The showers triggered water logging in some pockets like Andheri’s Veera Desai road. Meanwhile, railway services along the central and harbour line were delayed by 10 – 15 minutes on Monday even as officials maintained that no train services were suspended during the period.

Civic officials said at least 12 untoward incidents, including the collapse of houses and trees, besides short circuits, were reported in the city between Sunday and Monday morning, maintaining that no casualties were reported. Trees came crashing down in at least six places, of which three were in the western suburbs, while four cases of short circuit and two cases of partial house collapse were also reported.

As showers continued unabated throughout Monday, the IMD which had previously said that rain activity was slated to recede, extended its yellow alert for Mumbai, Thane and the neighbouring districts of Palghar and Raigad till Tuesday. According to the weather bureau, moderate rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds will continue in the region on Tuesday, following there will be some respite between Wednesday and Thursday.

However, according to the forecasts, a fresh yellow alert has been issued over the weekend when heavy rainfall is slated to sweep isolated pockets of the region.

Spurred by the heavy showers over the past two weeks, the city on Saturday surpassed its average monthly rainfall quota for September. While Mumbai receives an average of 380mm of rainfall in September, the Santacruz station has already recorded 410 mm so far.

Overall, the suburban station has reported 2,904 mm of rainfall since June while the Colaba coastal observatory has received 1,930 mm.

People stranded in flood hit Sakat village

At least 12 persons were stranded in the flooded Sakat village in Dharashiv district with the Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday calling for NDRF and helicopter deployment in the flood-hit village, where there was breakdown of communication.

In a bid to assess the ground situation in Dharashiv which has been lashed by incessant showers since Sunday, Pawar convened a meeting with district collector Kirti Kiran Pujar. “The NDRF and helicopter service should be deployed to relocate the stranded people from Sakat village safely, ” Pawar said.

The state government will provide all necessary help to villagers in times of difficulties, he reassured.
Amid heavy rain leading to flood like situation across several districts, the government has directed district collectors and local administration to remain on alert to aid people.

The crop loss due to floods is also a serious cause of concern. The state government is set to conduct panchanamas and extend all necessary compensation for crop loss. The government is committed to farmers welfare, Pawar reassured on Monday.

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