Mumbai: Heavy rains throw life out of gear
The monsoons coupled with high tide, unleashed its fury again on Friday, delaying trains and halting traffic across Mumbai through the day.
Between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, Colaba recorded 46.9 mm rainfall, while Santa Cruz recorded 95.8 mm. However, rainfall figures of other areas recorded higher readings. For instance, King’s Circle received 125 mm rainfall during the same period. Other areas such as Bandra (122 mm), Dadar (119 mm), Wadala (114 mm) and Dahisar (113 mm) also recorded very high rainfall.
Till Friday evening, the island city had received an average of 82.4 mm, eastern suburbs 83.4 mm and western suburbs 81.1 mm.
Waterlogging was reported in several parts of the city, and the high tide made it even more difficult for the rainwater to recede. The tides were 4.26 metres high at 2.50 pm, which caused the water-logging and subsequent traffic jams and train delays.
According to the MET department, the city is receiving rainfall as a result of two systems. “The offshore trough stretching from the Gujarat coast to the Kerala coast has been active. Moreover, a low-pressure area, which had formed over Orissa is travelling westwards. Together, these are causing heavy rainfall over the Konkan and Goa area, including Mumbai,” V.K. Rajeev, director of weather forecast at Indian Meteorological Department, Mumbai said
The weather department has predicted that the city could witness worse rainfall in the days to come. “As the low pressure area moves westwards, there will be more rainfall. We have given a ‘heavy to very heavy’ rainfall warning for the next 48 hours,” Mr Rajeev said.
Primarily, traffic in the city was impacted, and even the lifeline — local trains — got stalled due to waterlogging at the tracks. The administration was forced to stop and cancel the three networks’ lines.
“Flooded tracks at several places, including Chinchpokli, Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Kurla, Lower Parel, Grant Road, Sion, Bandra and Masjid on both the lines, led to cancellation of several trains and ran late by almost half-an-hour everywhere. Waterlogging at Nallasopara station led to suspension of services between Nallasopara and Virar for one hour,” said Nitin David, WR PRO.
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