Mumbai rain highlights

Mumbai rain highlights: Schools shut, flights diverted as IMD predicts heavy rainfall, high tide

Heavy rains in some low-lying areas of Mumbai led to waterlogging and disruption of suburban train services; NDRF deploys teams to ‘avert’ flood-like situation

Heavy rains pounded Mumbai and adjoining areas, severely affecting the Central Railway’s suburban services due to waterlogging on tracks and also hit the airport operations leading to 50 flight cancellations on July 8. The rain mayhem led to the inundation of many low-lying areas in the city, impacting vehicular movement, and people were seen wading through flooded streets. The State Government declared a holiday for all schools in Mumbai, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.

Also read: NDRF team rescues 49 people stranded due to heavy rain at resorts in Thane

Some areas in Mumbai received more than 300 mm of rainfall in just six hours ending at 7 a.m., causing inundation of roads and low-lying areas. Heavy rains also lashed the city throughout the day, further compounding the woes of residents. Both houses of the Maharashtra legislature were adjourned as many members and officials could not reach the Vidhan Bhavan due to the downpour. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took stock of the heavy rain situation by chairing a meeting at the Mantralaya and visiting the control room of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The IMD predicted moderate spells of rainfall in the city and suburbs and heavy showers at isolated places in the next 24 hours. The civic body appealed to citizens not to believe in rumours and to dial its control room numbers for emergency help. Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani kept an eye on the situation from the disaster management control room.