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Heavy Rain Brings Mumbai To A Halt, Streets Water-Logged, Traffic Affected

The downpour has resulted in severe water-logging in many parts of the city. Some weather experts have predicted the situation might get worse than the 2005 Mumbai rains.

Mumbai:  Mumbai received a fresh round of rainfall today, days after the weather department forecast heavy downpour in the city over the weekend. Over 32 flights were delayed and three cancelled due to weather conditions. Local trains are also running late by 10-15 minutes. The city’s civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC, has already got its armory in place to face the lash.

The downpour has resulted in severe water-logging in many parts of the city. Some weather experts have predicted the situation might get worse than the 2005 Mumbai rains.

In the wake of the warning from the weather department, BMC has cancelled the leaves of all its senior officials for the weekend, besides taking a number of precautionary measures to ensure that the residents don’t face any problem.

People have been asked to stay indoors. In a statement, the Regional Meteorological Centre of Mumbai said, "As rainfall activity is likely to enhance from 8th June with further increase on 9th June, people are advised to abstain from outdoor activities as much as possible during the period and also watch for the weather." Fishermen have also been warned against going too far out into the sea.

The Mumbai police also warned people to drive safe after a vehicle tripped over in Parel due to slippery roads resulting from the rain.

    You surely don’t want your vehicle & you lying like that on the road, in the rains! The roads are slippery & it’s consequence was seen this morning at Lower Parel!Thankfully no casualties.Please drive extra carefully. Decrease speed, increase cautiousness #MumbaiRains#RoadSafetypic.twitter.com/f0LbGGN5wS
    — Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) June 9, 2018

Schools will be kept open at all times for shelter in case of flooding. Navy personnel have been put on stand-by in parts of the city that are usually most flooded when there is heavy rain.

Three teams of National Disaster Response Force or NDRF will be stationed at Parel, Mankhurd (for eastern suburbs) and Andheri Sports Complex (for western suburbs). They are equipped with walkie-talkies and flood rescue material.

Heavy rain has also been forecast for coastal Karnataka, Goa and south Maharashtra.