AMN /New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today assured Maharashtra Government that the Centre will provide all possible support to the state government to cope with the abnormally heavy rains that have almost marooned the state capital Mumbai and adjoining areas.
Mr Modi spoke to State Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take stock of the situation after heavy rain hit Mumbai. ‘Spoke to Maharashtra CM @Dev_Fadnavis on the situation arising due to incessant rain in Mumbai & surrounding areas,’ the Prime Minister tweeted. ‘Centre assures all possible support to the Government of Maharashtra in mitigating the situation due to heavy rains in parts of the state,’ Mr Modi tweeted.
‘Urge the people of Mumbai and surrounding areas to stay safe & take all essential precautions in the wake of the heavy rain,’ the Prime Minister tweeted. All three routes — Central, Western and Harbour railway — and lifeline of Mumbaikars have halted today following heavy downpour since morning. Due to low visibility most of the flights were cancelled. Heavy rains in Mumbai have caused severe waterlogging in low-lying areas and has resulted in traffic snarls. The next 48 hours of the rains would be a bad period and has advised people not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary, the Met department said.
Mumbai is submerged in waist-deep water. According to weather officials, this could be the heaviest and longest bout of rain since July 26, 2005, when the city was devastated by flooding. Relentless rain has been going on for the past 24 hours. So much so that Colaba recorded 152 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours paving way for more hours today. Santa Cruz recorded 88 mm of rain, according to Skymet.
What has been described as “typhoon-like weather” by industrialist Anand Mahindra has left roads flooded in large parts of the city; traffic has slowed and trains delayed.