Friday, 27 September 2024
Friday, 27 September 2024
After a long dry spell, heavy rains battered Mumbai on September 25, causing four deaths, inundating low-lying areas, halting local trains and forcing the diversion of at least 14 incoming flights.
Local trains, the lifeline of the commercial capital of India, have been delayed and some have been rescheduled as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert predicting extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai on Thursday, September 26.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pune was cancelled due to the heavy rain situation in the Maharashtra city, ANI reported.
The weather bureau has issued an orange alert for the coastal districts of Palghar and Sindhudurg with “heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds at isolated places very likely”.
The Mumbai suburb of Mulund and its surrounding areas experienced the heaviest rainfall, resulting in waterlogging in low-lying areas since Wednesday afternoon.
Heavy rains slowed down road traffic due to waterlogging and poor visibility. Suburban train services were also delayed due to rains, said officials.
A 45-year-old woman drowned in a nullah overflowing due to heavy rains in Andheri East on Wednesday, police said.
The incident occurred at around 9.20 pm near gate no. 8 of MIDC, Andheri East, they said. The victim was identified as Vimal Anil Gaikwad.
Local police and the fire brigade were alerted and they took the woman to the Cooper Hospital where she was declared brought dead, they said.
Isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over Konkan and Goa and central Maharashtra during September 25-27.
The extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai has led the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to announce a holiday for all schools and colleges on Thursday.
A BMC official said the holiday has been declared as a precautionary measure as the Met department has issued a red alert predicting extremely heavy rainfall till 8:30 am on Thursday.
"All schools and colleges under BMC's jurisdiction will remain closed on Thursday, considering the safety of the students," the BMC said, per PTI.
The civic body also appealed to citizens to step out of their homes only if necessary.
"Commuters are advised to check weather updates and plan accordingly," the civic body said.
Significant water-logging was reported from Kurla, Chembur, Mulund, Vikhroli, Breach Candy and some other areas in Mumbai, where people could be seen wading their way through waist-high water.
Floodwaters receded in most of the affected areas and flight operations at Mumbai airport resumed on Thursday morning.
