Next 48 Hours Crucial, Continuous Rains Paralyse Mumbai; Local Trains Halted, Flights Disrupted; 10 Dead

Mumbai, 20 August (Kiran News). The Meteorological Department has stated that the next 48 hours will be crucial, issuing a red alert and warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts during this period.

Continuous heavy rainfall in Mumbai and various parts of Maharashtra has brought life to a standstill. In the last 24 hours, Mumbai has recorded 300 millimetres of rain. Severe waterlogging has turned many streets into rivers, paralysing traffic. Mumbai’s lifeline, the local train service, has also come to a halt as several railway lines are submerged. Local train operations have been stopped in many places, and the Sion-Kurla and CSMT-Karjat routes have been closed.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has announced closure of government, semi-government offices, schools, and colleges. Flight services have also been disrupted, with many flights operating late. Even the High Court building has been flooded. The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert, warning of heavy to very heavy rain in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg in the next 48 hours, with a high alert declared in these areas.

CM Fadnavis Reviews Situation

Given the situation, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reviewed the situation and instructed all departments to remain alert. In the past few days, rain in Maharashtra has claimed 10 lives, with significant damage to property and crops. Hundreds of people have been shifted to safer locations due to rains and floods.

High Alert in Half a Dozen Districts

Apart from disrupted rail and flight services in Mumbai and its metropolitan area, heavy rain has been reported in districts such as Gadchiroli in Vidarbha and Nanded in Marathwada. After a review with the Disaster Management Department, Chief Minister Fadnavis said the next 48 hours are important for more than half a dozen districts, including Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, which are all on high alert.

Record Rainfall in Mumbai

The Chief Minister informed that eight people died in floods caused by cloudburst-like conditions in Nanded, while Mumbai has recorded around 300 mm of rain. Heavy rainfall has damaged crops over 12 to 14 lakh acres. Fadnavis said water is being released from dams, and coordination is being maintained with neighbouring states for water management.

The Chief Minister also said that district collectors are authorised to take decisions regarding financial assistance for affected people as per NDRF rules, including for loss of livestock, houses, and life. The administration has been instructed to conduct on-site inspections of crop damage.

Low-Lying Areas in Mumbai Submerged

Continuous overnight rain has submerged low-lying areas in Mumbai, disrupting suburban rail services. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has declared holidays in all government and semi-government offices. The Mumbai High Court, which usually functions from 11 am to 5 pm, could only operate till 12:30 pm due to the rain.

Prediction of Heavy Rains

In view of the ‘red alert’ issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), schools and colleges have also been closed. The IMD has predicted heavy rainfall in Mumbai and neighbouring districts at various places on Tuesday. The Directorate of Higher Education has declared holidays in all colleges in the Konkan region, affecting institutions in Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg.

The aviation sector has also been hit, with at least eight flights diverted and several delayed. On Tuesday evening, a monorail train with at least 200 passengers got stuck between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park stations during heavy rain in Mumbai. Fire services and other agencies used cranes to rescue the passengers. Mumbai’s Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Joshi confirmed that more than 200 passengers were rescued from the stranded monorail.