Rain brings Mumbai to halt

Torrential downpour paralysed the usual busy life of Mumbai on Tuesday, severely affecting road, rail, air and sea traffic.

The downpour brought the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to its knees, once again exposing the claims of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation and other municipal bodies.

The heavy rain was accompanied by gusty winds emanating from the Arabian Sea.

People were stranded at railway stations, bus depots, places of worship and on roads. Hundreds of people were wading through waist-deep water to reach their homes.

Tuesday's rain - around 250 mm - brought back memories of the July 26, 2005, deluge when a cloudburst triggered more than 900 mm of rainfall. The rain affected the fifth day of the immersion of Ganpati idols and shopping for the upcoming Eid festivities.

While the Maharashtra government declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Mumbai, all officials responsible for critical tasks have been asked to report for duty.

"We are constantly monitoring the situation...please avoid coming out of your homes unless absolutely necessary," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed to the people.

Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar blamed nature for the present situation. "We were prepared but the rainfall is unprecedented," he said.

The central Mumbai areas of Dadar, Sion, Kurla, Parel and Lower Parel were badly affected. Four wheelers and two wheelers were stuck at several places in these areas. Water entered the KEM Hospital at Parel.

The suburbs of Bandra, Andheri, Dahisar, Mulund and Thane were also affected. he Mithi river, that was responsible for the 2005 deluge, once again swelled.

The Dahisar, Oshivara, Ulhas, Surya and Vaitarna rivers in the MMR swelled and flowed at full force.

The Navy and the National Disaster Response Force have been kept on stand by.
"In some housing complexes in Thane, water has reached the first floor," said Mayur Borkar, a media professional and activist.

"The fears of 26/7 deluge came alive," said B N Kumar, president of the Public Relations Council of India and a resident of Navi Mumbai.

"I was stranded in Dadar and walked till Bandra to catch a train back home," said Shaibal Gupta, a resident of Vasai.

"I am stranded for the last five hours in the Vile Parle-Goregaon stretch, there is huge traffic in all places," said Sambaji Jadhav, a cab driver.

"I am on vada-pavs and bananas since morning and still in Bandra," said Rajesh, a human resource professional.

The Deputy Director General of IMD (Regional Meteorological Centre), K H Hosalikar, said similar weather conditions are likely to prevail on Wednesday and Thursday. "We have issued a heavy rainfall warning all over Maharashtra," he said.