Mumbai is experiencing heavy rains on Saturday, causing multiple roads to remain waterlogged since early morning and bringing traffic to a standstill. Visuals from Dadar railway station showed railway tracks submerged in water as the rains continued.
Videos showed people wading through waterlogged routes amid poor visibility as the city bore the brunt of incessant rainfall again. The Mumbai Traffic Police informed that vehicular movement at MGR Chowk, Everard Nagar Slip Road, and Gandhi Market (Matunga) was affected due to waterlogging.
Additionally, the tunnel leading from Mankhurd T Junction to Maharashtra Nagar has been closed for traffic due to extensive waterlogging. Railway tracks at the Sion and Bandra stations were also submerged.
As per rainfall data from 8:30 am of August 15 to 5:30 am on August 16, Vikhroli received 248.5 mm of rainfall, while Santacruz recorded 232.5 mm. Additionally, Sion received 221.0 mm, Juhu 208.0 mm, Bandra 173.0 mm, Byculla 158.5 mm, and Colaba has measured 70.4 mm.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Red alert as Mumbai reeled under heavy rains, upgrading it from Orange alert on Friday. The Mumbai Police cautioned the residents against venturing out unless essential.
“Mumbai is experiencing heavy rainfall with an Orange Alert in effect. Waterlogging and reduced visibility have been reported in several areas. Mumbaikars are advised to avoid non-essential travel and to exercise caution while venturing out," Mumbai Police posted on X.
A yellow alert was issued for Palghar, Thane, and Mumbai on Friday, warning of moderate to heavy rain. In Palghar, the rain is expected to get heavier from Sunday and last until August 19. Raigad and Ratnagiri, which are under an orange alert until next Tuesday, are also likely to get a lot of rain.
Weather officials explain that this spell of rain is due to a low-pressure system over south Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh. There is also an east-west trough – a line of low pressure – extending from the Bay of Bengal into the Arabian Sea. This combination is pulling in moisture and causing heavy showers along the Konkan coast, including Mumbai. According to the IMD, the wet conditions are likely to continue until at least August 20.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has activated its disaster control rooms and kept pumping stations ready to manage flooding in low-lying spots. Additional staff have been deployed in areas that typically see waterlogging, and tree-trimming teams are also on standby to prevent accidents caused by falling branches.
Source: News18
