Downpour in Mumbai, red alert issued, BMC schools shut

Heavy rains lashed Mumbai and its suburbs on Thursday, causing waterlogging on roads in some areas that led to traffic snarls and also delayed local train operations.

Owing to incessant rains in the catchment areas, Vihar and Modak Sagar lakes started overflowing. With this, four of the seven reservoirs providing potable water to the metropolis are now overflowing, which improved the overall water stock, officials said.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai, after which the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared holiday for all schools and colleges in the city.

The municipal corporation has appealed to schools to inform parents and take necessary precautions, an official said.

Several areas of Mumbai recorded more than 100 mm of rainfall between 4 am and 1 pm on Thursday, he said.

Malpa Dongri area in Andheri recorded the highest rainfall of 157 mm during this period followed by Paspoli in Powai receiving 155 mm and Dindoshi receiving 154 mm rainfall.

The IMD has issued a red alert for Mumbai city and neighbouring Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in some places and extremely heavy rainfall in isolated places during the day, the BMC official said.

In the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, the IMD has issued an orange alert for Ratnagiri district (heavy to very heavy rainfall) and a yellow alert for Sindhudurg district for Thursday.

Due to incessant rains, the water level of Mithi river, which runs through the industrial hub of the city, rose to 2.5 metres, while its danger mark is 4.2 metres, an official said, adding that a high tide of 4.64 metres has been predicted in the Arabian Sea at 2.51 pm.

Vihar lake, one of the seven lakes supplying water to Mumbai, started overflowing at around 3.50 am, while Modak Sagar started overflowing at 10.40 am, the officials said.

Powai and Tulsi lakes have already started overflowing.

The IMD forecast that Mumbai will most likely witness occasional gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph, they said.

In the 24 hours ending 8 am on Thursday, the island city recorded 44 mm rainfall, its eastern and western suburbs 90 mm and 89 mm rainfall, respectively, a civic official said.

Some low-lying areas saw waterlogging due to the heavy rains since early morning, forcing the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), which operates passenger buses in the city, to divert its vehicles on half a dozen routes in Aarey Colony.

Commuters complained that the suburban services operated by the Western Railway and the Central Railway were running 10-15 minutes late.

A Central Railway spokesperson said that due to low visibility as a result of heavy rains, the speed of suburban trains has been reduced.

Water started accumulating in railway tracks between Kurla and Ghatkopar stations from 10.30 am onwards, but it is still below the danger mark and hence all the suburban trains are running at reduced speed, he said.

Railway traffic on the Panvel-Karjat line has been suspended due to flooding in tracks, he added.

Bridge washed away in Mahad

A low-level bridge over a stream was washed away amid heavy rains in Mahad MIDC area of Maharashtra's Raigad district on Thursday, an official said.

The bridge connected Kasbe Shivthar and Samarth Shivthar villages, he said.

It was not used for vehicular movement, but locals used it to reach their fields in Samarth Shivthar, the official added.

The IMD has issued a red alert forecasting heavy to very heavy rains in the coastal Raigad district.