The monsoon was late but arrived with a bang in Mumbai. Mumbaikars are faced with same old misery as the torrential downpour batter the financial capital of the country and parts of the city are submerged under the water.
The city’s failed drainage system led to severe flooding. People waded through knee-deep water to reach office/school, public transport also took a hit. Water paved its way into several households.
The state government declared July 2 as a public holiday.
Loss Of Life
18 people have lost their lives and several injured after a wall collapse in Malad due to heavy rainfall on the night of July 1. The incident happened at Kurar village, Pimparipada-Malad East.
According to the officials, around 51 people have been sent to the trauma centre at Jogeshwari and Shatabdi hospital. The rescue operation is underway. The eyewitness of the mishap told media persons that the wall collapse destroyed around 150 huts.
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis visited the Shatabdi hospital to meet the injured. Fadnavis also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the bereaved families. As of now, wall collapse incidents were reported from 12 places in the city.
Mumbai: CM Devendra Fadnavis visits Shatabdi Hospital to meet the people injured in #Malad wall collapse incident today, Minister Yogesh Sagar also present. 18 people died and at least 13 were injured in the incident. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/IF13wzibdB
— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2019
Airport’s Main Runway Shut
The main runway at Mumbai airport was shut last night, July 1 after a SpiceJet aircraft skid and overshot the main track during landing amidst heavy rains. As per media reports, around 54 flights have been diverted to nearby airports. It might take 48 hours to reopen the main runaway as per officials.
Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) Spox: A 150 m length of ramp is being prepared to push an aircraft out of the grassy area. Air India’s disabled aircraft recovery kit has been mobilised.
SpiceJet SG 6237 overshot runway at Mumbai Airport today. All passengers were safe pic.twitter.com/M9fvLATacU— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2019
A secondary runaway has been made operational for the flights to land and take-off. Many subsequent flights were directed to Ahmedabad and Bangalore airport. A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt and an Air India flight from Bangkok were diverted to other airports. Around 52 flights have been cancelled, and 55 flights were delayed.
The Mumbai Airport manager has advised people to check the status of their flights before reaching the airport.
The Western Express Highway which leads to the airport is inundated making it difficult for people to catch their fights.
Mumbai’s Lifeline Takes A Hit
Heavy rainfall in Mumbai in the last five days has adversely impacted the suburban rail network on the Central Railways’ Harbour and Main lines. The Central Railway took to Twitter to inform that the Central Railway Suburban will only run between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Bandra, Vashi and Panvel and Thane-Vashi- Panvel on the Transharbour line, and the fourth corridor to Kharkopar.
Suburban train running pattern today. @mybmc @m_indicator @RidlrMUM @mumbairailusers @mumbai_locals @SlowLocal @drmmumbaicr pic.twitter.com/hUrTI0Rkxn
— Central Railway (@Central_Railway) July 2, 2019
IWaterlogged the Kurla, Mulund, Thane and Sion stations.
#MumbaiRains: Railway tracks submerge at Sion railway station, after heavy rains in the area. pic.twitter.com/BxqWp30ENU
— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2019
The impact of the heavy rain was seen on the long-distance passenger trains coming into the city. More than 27 trains arriving at the city from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh had to be short terminated. Outstation on the Western Railway was also impacted due to the situation in Nalaspara.
Traffic Snarls
The city witnessed massive traffic congestion in several parts. Andheri and Sion were worst impacted due to rain. Areas like Parel, Labaugh, Senapati Bapat road, and Hindmata remained waterlogged.
In Chembur water entered several houses. Residents in Vasai Virar and Nallasopara are facing flood like situation.
The Indian Navy was pressed into action for helping stranded citizens. Around 1000 people were rescued from Kranti Nagar in Kurla.
#IndianNavy deploys various teams to provide relief to rain hit and stranded Mumbaikars in Kurla area @Dev_Fadnavis @CMOMaharashtra @PIBMumbai @DDNewsHindi @SpokespersonMoD @rajnathsingh @DefenceMinIndia @airnewsalerts @nitin_gadkari @RanveerOfficial @meghnagulzar pic.twitter.com/hkIGFZNJI0
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 2, 2019
Government Passes The Buck
Waterlogging in the city of Mumbai is an annual affair. Inadequate drainage facility is to be blamed. However, the government official fails to own-up the responsibility and instead hold the monsoon accountable.
Mumbai municipal chief Praveen Pardeshi said that it is the climate change and geographic phenomena that is causing heavy rains in such a short period leading to water logging in several areas. Pardeshi said that every season Mumbai faces waterlogging since the city’s stormwater drainage system is not equipped to handle the rainfall received by the city.
The city has received 540 mm of rainfall, which is the highest in the city in the last decade. The IMD officials have warned of “extremely heavy” rainfall in Thane and Palghar from July 2-5.
Skymet, a private weather agency, further said that Mumbai is in “serious risk of flooding” between July 3-5. It also said that the city might receive close to 200 mm rain, which can hamper the normal life.
Maharashtra CM has advised people not to go out unless it is an emergency.
Also Read: With Rains In Delhi And Other Parts Of North India, Scorching Heatwave Gets A Breather
