Mumbai rains: IMD says 'very heavy rain' expected on 13 and 14 June, BMC on high alert

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a high alert for Mumbai, forecasting that the city will receive "very heavy rain" on 13 and 14 June.

The weather department on Saturday morning said that the city's eastern suburbs received 89.30 to 92.38 milimetres of rainfall, while Mumbai city received 79.66 milimetres in the last 24 hours.

Detailing its preparation to prevent or tackle a flood-like situation in the city, the BMC said that all its control rooms, as well as those operated by other agencies, have been issued the "high alert" directive.

Power utility firms like BEST and Adani have also been instructed to ensure preparedness for any situation. Additionally, the Coast Guard, Navy, and NDRF have been told to remain on standby to render help if required, PTI reported.

A BMC statement added that flood rescue squads from the fire brigade have been deployed in six control rooms.

It also said that the storm water drain department had checked and verified the effective functioning of all six pumping stations, as well as of the pumps installed in several flood-prone areas.

"People are advised to not visit beaches, seafronts etc. Temporary shelters in BMC schools located in 24 civic wards have been kept ready. The officials of various agencies have been asked to report to the disaster control room for better coordination," an official was quoted as saying by PTI.

An NDRF team has been stationed at the Kranti Nagar bank of the Mithi river, with 'L' Ward officials being told to monitor the situation in the area continuously and make arrangements to evacuate people if the water level rises, the BMC said.

These measures come in the backdrop of three days of continuous rainfall after the IMD announced the onset of the Southwest Monsoon season in Mumbai on Wednesday. The incessant rains caused flooding on roads and railway tracks, disrupting local train services on Wednesday and Thursday.

On Wednesday, the IMD had issued an "orange alert" for Mumbai, predicting "heavy to very heavy rain" at isolated places till Sunday.

The same day, at least 12 people, including eight children, were killed and seven others injured after two floors of a three-storey residential building collapsed on an adjoining single-storey house in Mumbai's Malad area around 11.15 pm after heavy rains.

Besides, one person died in a separate incident of wall collapse in Dahisar in the evening on Thursday.

On Friday, Mumbai Mirror reported that the city had received 94 percent of its usual June rainfall in two days.

"With showers continuing, the average precipitation is likely to be covered in the first fortnight of June itself. Since 1 June, 474 milimetres of rainfall has been recorded in the city against the average monthly total of 505 milimetres. As much as 338 milimetres of that is above normal for the period," the report said.

Meanwhile, chief spokesperson of Western Railway, Sumit Thakur, on Friday said that trains on the Western line in Mumbai were running as per usual after the two-day disruption.

On Friday evening, the IMD also issued a warning of extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in Mumbai's surrounding areas on Sunday.

It also issued a 'red alert' for Ratnagiri and Raigad districts in coastal Maharashtra. A few places in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane may receive heavy rains on Saturday too, it added.

Rainfall of more than 204.5 mm in 24 hours is considered as extremely heavy.

"Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Ratnagiri districts are very likely to receive extremely heavy rains at isolated places on Sunday. Raigad and Ratnagiri districts have similar alert for Saturday as well," said the Regional Meteorological Centre of the IMD here.

Mumbai and Thane districts will "very likely receive heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places (on Saturday)," it added.

In the rest of Maharashtra, there will be moderate rains with thunderstorms and lightning in the next two days with varied intensity, the forecast said.

With inputs from PTI



from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/3iBCz00
FP Staff

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