Mumbai flooded in monsoon's first heavy rainfall
07 Jun 2018
Heavy pre-Monsoon rains lashed Mumbai two days ahead of the official arrival of the southwest Monsoon, delaying trains, inundating roads and disrupting flights to and from the Mumbai airport.
Flooding of roads have been reported in Dadar, Parel, Cuff Parade, Bandra, Borivali and Andheri, and the meteorological office has warned of very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.
Heavy rainfall in Mumbai caused water-logging in several parts of the city, Hindmata junction in south-central Mumbai as well in the Juhu locality. Railway tracks between Sion and Matunga were also flooded.
The weather office has warning of heavy rainfall in the next few days and civic authorities have advised people to stay indoors.
Reports said a Jet Airways flight from London has been diverted to Ahmedabad.
With the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting "heavy to very heavy" rainfall along the Maharashtra coast, including Mumbai, over this weekend, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing itself to prevent and tackle monsoon-related disasters.
The IMD had predicted likely flooding in places along the west coast, especially flash floods caused by heavy downpours and water logging. A warning of heavy rainfall has been issued for the next few days.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken a number of precautionary measures to tackle any eventuality in view of the 'extremely heavy rainfall' warning by the IMD from 9 to 11 June, a statement issued by the civic body said.
"Leaves of all the senior officials, including deputy municipal commissioners (DMCs), assistant commissioners (AMCs) and heads of departments have been cancelled and they have been directed to be available in their headquarters on 9 and 10 June (Saturday and Sunday)," it said.
The BMC said three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be stationed at Parel, Mankhurd (for eastern suburbs) and Andheri Sports Complex (for western suburbs).
Navy personnel will also be on stand-by in Colaba, Worli, Ghatkopar, Trombay and Malad for flood rescue if required, the BMC release said.
In addition to this, six Flood Rescue Teams of Mumbai Fire Brigade will be posted at the Regional Command Centres and emergency support functions like BEST (bus transport system), police, traffic police and education officers have been alerted. The education officers monitoring school premises in all 24 administrative wards have been asked to keep shelter schools open round the clock. Dewatering pumps will be kept ready and flood-prone spots will be monitored closely during the heavy rain period, statement said.
As per the IMD forecast, there is a possibility of very heavy rainfall in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts on 9 June. There is a similar forecast for the six districts of Konkan region, including Mumbai, and surrounding areas on 10 and 11 June.