Mumbai is under an orange alert as heavy rainfall continues to lash the city, disrupting daily life and leading to incidents of short circuits and tree falls. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued the alert, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region until Tuesday, August 19.
The heavy downpour has already resulted in several disaster incidents across the city. From Saturday morning to Sunday evening, authorities recorded 30 incidents of short circuits, 44 incidents of tree falls, and nine incidents of wall collapses. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in these incidents. In one instance last year, a short circuit claimed the life of a 72-year-old woman.
Areas in Mumbai have received substantial rainfall. Over a 24-hour period, Vikhroli recorded 135 mm of rain, while Powai received 125 mm. Mulund West saw 123 mm, and Dahisar East recorded 131 mm. Other areas like Borivali West, Worli, and Dadar also experienced rainfall exceeding 100 mm. Mumbai has already received 64% of its average annual rainfall, with the eastern suburbs receiving the maximum at 1,534 mm.
The தொடர் rainfall is attributed to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, leading to an east-west trough extending to the Arabian Sea. The weather conditions are expected to persist for the next few days, with the IMD maintaining its alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad. Red alerts, indicating extreme heavy rainfall, have been issued for Raigad on August 18 and Palghar on August 19.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that Tulsi Lake, one of the seven lakes supplying drinking water to Mumbai, started overflowing. However, the BMC has also warned citizens against venturing near the shoreline during high tide. A high tide of 3.54 meters is predicted for Monday morning.
Commuters are facing difficulties due to the heavy rains. Though local train services are running, delays are expected, and passengers are advised to check for updates. Airlines like IndiGo and Akasa Air have issued travel advisories, urging passengers to allocate sufficient travel time and monitor their flight status due to potential waterlogging on key routes.
The IMD forecasts continued heavy showers throughout the week, gradually easing by Thursday. Residents are advised to take precautions, and authorities are working to manage the weather-related disruptions.
