Mumbai rains: City faces waterlogging, traffic woes amid downpour; CM Eknath Shinde reviews situation

Commuters wade through a waterlogged road amid heavy rainfall, in Mumbai on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

Mumbai: Mumbai and its adjoining areas were lashed by heavy showers on Tuesday, causing waterlogging at a number of places, including railway tracks, which slowed the movement of trains and vehicles on roads. Normal life was adversely affected in the metropolis and no immediate respite was in sight as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted moderate to heavy rain in Mumbai and its suburbs over the next 24 hours, with a possibility of very heavy showers at isolated places, said civic officials. Maharashtra's new Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took stock of the situation and directed state administration officials to take necessary precautions and ensure there was no loss of life or damage to property. 

The island city (south Mumbai) received an average of 95.81 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ended at 8 am, while the eastern and western suburbs recorded 115.09 mm and 116.73 mm rainfall, respectively, during the same period, they said. Between 8 am and 11.30 am, the island city received an average of 41 mm rainfall, while the eastern and western suburbs got 85 mm and 55 mm showers, respectively, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials said. 

Mumbai rains hit suburban train services

Suburban train services, considered the lifeline of Mumbai, were affected on the Main and Harbour corridors of the Central Railway (CR) due to waterlogging on tracks near Kurla, Railway sources said. There was also a bunching of trains heading towards the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai on the Main line, they said. 

Tracks were inundated in Sion, Kurla, Tilak Nagar and Wadala areas of the Central Railway route, CR's chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar said. 

Commuters also complained of severe waterlogging in some subways in Panvel, Khandeshwar and Mansarovar stations on the Harbour line in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, forcing them to wade through ankle-deep water. 

Mumbai water logging

The BEST undertaking, which provides public bus services in Mumbai and neighbouring cities, was forced to divert its buses via alternate routes, due to water logging in Sion, Chembur, Bandra, Air India Colony, Kurla and a few other locations, an official said.

The vehicular movement was slow at Dadar TT, Parel TT, Sakkar Panchayat Chowk, Wadala in central Mumbai, Tembi bridge in Chembur, and near the Mankhurd railway station due to water rising up to one to two feet, police said. 

Traffic police personnel were deployed at various locations to avoid vehicular congestion, an official said. 

Heavy rainfall alert for Maharashtra for next four days

The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall alert for Maharashtra over the next four days, following which Chief Minister Shinde directed state administration officials to take precautions and ensure there was no loss of life or damage to property. The IMD has issued an 'orange alert' for the south Konkan region and Goa and a 'yellow alert' for north Konkan, north central and south central Maharashtra and Marathwada regions. 

The MeT department issues four colour-coded predictions based on the prevailing weather systems. The green colour indicates no warning, yellow is to keep a watch, orange is to stay alert, while red means a warning and that action needs to be taken. 

The Chief Minister's Office said that Shinde is in touch with collectors of Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. 

The National Disaster Response Force has also been asked to remain alert. 

"The situation in Mumbai is also being closely monitored," it said. 

The Kundalika River in Raigad district, located near Mumbai, has crossed the danger mark, as per an official statement.

The water level of Amba, Savitri, Patalganga, Ulhas and Gadhi rivers was hovering just near the danger mark, it said. 

"In view of the increasing rains and flood-like situation, Chief Minister Shinde has held discussions with Chief Secretary Manu Kumar Srivastava. Guardian secretaries have been asked to reach their districts and monitor the situation," said the CMO statement.