Mumbai rains highlights: Rain abates; schools, colleges stay shut

Mumbai witnessed overcast skies on Tuesday morning, but the rains took a break. 

Local trains, considered as the lifeline of the country’s financial capital, also came back on tracks as there was no waterlogging anywhere since early morning.

The suburban services were running with a minor delay of 5-10 minutes, authorities said.

-PTI

The IMD has predicted heavy rainfall at isolated places in Mumbai until July 12. 

Heavy to moderate rainfall is also expected in Palghar, Thane, Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Sangli, Sholapur, Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Beed, Hingoli, Nanded, Latur, Osmanabad, Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, and Yavatmal up to July 12.

-ANI

The heavy downpour on July 8 caused many disruptions in the financial capital, causing waterlogging and flooding in several parts. A citizen’s group is demanding compensation from the civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

In a letter to Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, Watchdog Foundation, a Mumbai citizens group, said, “We express our deep dissatisfaction with the BMC’s recent claim of having kept the metropolis “rain ready.” This assertion has been thoroughly discredited by the significant flooding experienced across several areas, which severely disrupted vehicular traffic. For instance, the Marol area, which rarely experiences flooding, was in four feet deep water, which damaged many vehicles including the instances of water entering residential premises and shops.” 

Read the story here.

The University of Mumbai has postponed all exams scheduled for July 9, with new dates to be announced soon.

-ANI

Criticising the mismanagement of the monsoon by the State government and the BMC, the Congress party’s Mumbai chief Varsha Gaikwad said the city had collapsed due to corruption in the pre-monsoon work.

“The city has already drowned in the first season of monsoon. The BMC and State government’s claims that pre-monsoon work had been completed in Mumbai, and that we are monsoon-ready, have been proven wrong. The Mahayuti government is a liar that makes false promises to the people and left Mumbaikers to suffer today,” Ms. Gaikwad said.

The IMD has forecast moderate to heavy spells of rain in Mumbai city and its suburbs.

“Generally cloudy sky with intermittent moderate to heavy spells of rain in city and suburbs.”

Tide timings: High tide at 2.33 p.m. 4.31 mtr

Low Tide at 8.36 p.m. 1.63 mtr.

Average rainfall from 8a.m. on July 8, 2024 to 8a.m. on July 9, 2024 in Mumbai city was 141.97 mm, eastern suburbs 116.61 mm and western suburbs 142.58 mm.

-Purnima Sah

The rains also affected BEST bus services, with many plying on alternate routes to avoid waterlogging in areas like Parel, Gandhi Market, Sangam Nagar and Malad subway.

“The city reported 12 incidents of short-circuit, which claimed the life of a 72-year-old woman at Santacruz East. The lady sustained burn injuries in a fire triggered due to a short-circuit in a room of Haji Siddhiki Chawl on Datta Mandir Road,” a civic official said.

Incessant showers lashed Mumbai and adjoining areas on Monday, disrupting suburban train services and flight operations.

Central Railway services faced significant disruptions due to rain-induced waterlogging despite installing high-capacity pumps in low-lying areas, inconveniencing thousands of passengers as local trains stopped on tracks for hours. Many out-station trains on their way to Mumbai also remained stranded.

After resuming services earlier on Monday, Harbour line services of Central Railway were suspended again on a stretch at night due to waterlogging on the tracks.

Flight services at the Mumbai airport were also severely impacted due to low visibility after heavy rains, leading to runway operations being shut for over an hour and approximately 50 flights being cancelled on Monday, sources said.

Of the 50 cancelled flights (both arrivals and departures) till 11 AM, 42 were operated by IndiGo and six by Air India, they said.

-PTI