AMN / MUMBAI
Mumbai virtually comes to a standstill after incessant rainfall, the worst since the 2005 deluge. Many places in Mumbai waterlogged, Rail, road and air services disrupted; Bandra Worli Sea Link in Mumbai closed for the first time due to waterlogging; Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis briefed PM Modi on the situation; PM assures support; Schools and colleges to remain shut in Mumbai on Wednesday.
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Life limping back to normal in Mumbai as rain stopped
Bringing back memories of the 2005 Mumbai deluge, the Maximum City waded in waist deep water on Tuesday due to incessant rainfall that began on Monday.
According to the weather man, 370 mm of rain was recorded from Tuesday morning to 5:30 pm in Mumbai which is several times higher than normal which is 20mm of rainfall. The weatherman has forecast heavy rain in Mumbai in the next 12 hours. It says heavy rain was caused by low pressure over South West Madhya Pradesh. Rail, road and air connectivity has been badly hit due to waterlogging. Helpline numbers have been issued and NDRF teams have been deployed.
For now, Navy divers and helicopters have been kept on stand by to meet any eventuality and as a precautionary measure schools and colleges will remain shut in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Mumbai witnessing its worst heavy rains since the 2005 deluge. Be it local trains, roads or the airport all felt the impact of the torrential rains that hit maximum city since Monday night.
Streets brimmed up with rain water in most areas of Mumbai, Navi Mumabi and Thane. Normal life thrown completely out of gear in and around the country’s financial capital. It rained the most in Wadala within a matter of hours. BMC gave the figure of 253 mm.
SIGNAL FAILS AT TRAIN STATION
Heavy water logging around railway tracks in bandra and Thane led to the signal failing at Bandra Railway station bringing all locals to a halt on that track. Train services remained suspended on all 3 suburban railway networks for several hours.
SEA LINK SHUT FOR FIRST TIME
Bandra-Worli sea link was shut for a few hours for the first time after its opening in 2009 to clear traffic back log. Traffic was resumed on the landmark Mumbai road link around 6 in the evening.
AIR SERVICES HIT
Mumbai airport operations were affected by strong gusts of wind leading to flights delay by an average of 35 minutes. 3 were diverted to Gujarat.
NDRF TEAMS ON ALERT
3 teams on National Disaster Response Force have been deployed and two others were moved to Mumbai from Pune.
BMC PUMPS WATER, ISSUES 1916 HELPLINE
BMC has put pumping sets in several low lying areas to clear water logging, issued helpline number 1916. People can also use social media like twitter handles of Maharashtra CM, BMC, Mumbai Police, NDRF, Chief Minister’s office, Prime Minister’s office and the PM’s personal handle to seek help.
HOSPITAL GETS FLOODED
Parel’s KEM Hospital also witnessed the impact. Patients were shifted on higher floors as water flooded into wards. 4 people were admitted to Saifi Hospital as a poster on V R Road area fell on them.
CM IN CONTROL ROOM
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took an overview of the situation by visiting the Disaster Management control room. He directed all govt departments to allow employees to leave early from office and also appealed to private sector companies to do the same.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called Maharashtra CM and offered all central assistance. He appealed to all Mumbaikars to stay safe and take necessary precautions.
President Ram Nath Kovind also took to social media to express his concern and assured people that best steps are being taken to tackle the situation.
MORE RAIN IN NEXT 48 HOURS
The situation looks tenuous for now with met department predicting heavy to very heavy rains in a wide region around Mumbai extending till Vidarbha in next 48 hours.