Several areas in Thane, Palghar, Raigad record over 100 mm of rain

Data furnished by the IMD showed that several talukas of Palghar, Raigad and Thane recorded over 100 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending 6 pm on Wednesday. While Dapoli received the maximum showers at 247 mm, Uran received 174 mm of rains followed by Palghar which recorded 160 mm.

Meanwhile, Ambarnath and Vasai also experienced intense showers with IMD recording 180 mm and 165 mm respectively.

In Raigad district, which faced the heaviest brunt of the showers, IMD bulletin showed that between 8 am and 5 pm, Matheran received 180 mm of rainfall whereas Mhsala received 133 mm of rain followed by Poladpur wherein 141.8 mm of showers were recorded.

Furthermore, rainfall analysis data procured from the Department of Agriculture showed that until 10.20 am on Wednesday, Raigad district cumulatively received 163 mm of rain, whereas Thane and Palghar districts recorded 80 mm and 63 mm respectively.

Sushma Nair, scientist at IMD Mumbai, attributed the strong monsoon spells to intense conviction in northern as well as southern Konkan region.

“Since morning, Thane, Palghar as well as Raigad have received very heavy rainfall,” said Nair in a statement released Wednesday.

Incessant downpour led to water accumulation in the several pockets of Palghar, Raigad and Thane districts, wreaking havoc in the daily lives of residents. In several low lying areas of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s Vasai, Kalyan, Badlapur etc, accumulated water spilled into commercial and residential structures leaving residents to wade through knee-deep watter.

Owing to water-logging, vehicular movement slowed down along major routes including Mumbai- Ahmedabad highway, Western Express highway near Santacruz and Andheri, Eastern Express highway in Dadar and Kurla, Thane, Kalyan and also on the Fountain junction in Vasai.

On Wednesday morning, Raigad district authorities issued a notice asking schools to remain shut due to heavy downpour.

Several schools in Thane and Palghar districts also remained shut or declared a half day and carried out early dispersal.

Meanwhile, a number of rivers including the Ulhas (Thane), Amba, Kundalika were in spate triggering flood-like situations in several districts of Maharashtra.

In Raigad district, Savitri and Patalganga rivers crossed dangerous levels resulting in floods in Mahad. A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been deployed in Mahad in a bid to carry out the rescue operations.

Sachin Dube, senior official of Thane Disaster Response Force (TDRF) told The Indian Express that a team of 15 TDRF members has also deployed to aid the operations in Mahad.

Furthermore, according to district officials, as many as 200 families from Sonivali and Hendrepada in Badlapur town of Thane have been shifted to safer places following flooding in those areas. Around 60 families from Morya Nagar in Kalyan taluka and inmates of a senior citizens’ home in Ambarnath area of Thane were also shifted to safer places.

According to the weather bureau, the heavy rains are here to stay with the IMD extending an orange alert in Palghar, Raigad, Thane and Ratnagiri districts.