Mumbai rains live: Trains on suburban lines normal, Met dept warns of heavy rains

Schools, colleges in Mumbai to remain shut on Saturday

Following Meteorological Department’s predictions of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours, Maharashtra government today announced that all schools and colleges will remain closed on Saturday in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane district.

“Based on heavy rainfall predictions of IMD, Schools and colleges of Mumbai and Thane will officially remain close tomorrow,” state education minister Vinod Tawde told reporters.

BMC not responsible, says Uddhav Thackeray

It’s the weather gods, not the authorities says Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray seeking to take the blame off the BMC which his party controls.  

“I won’t hold the BMC responsible. Situation was like a cloud burst. This was a huge problem,” he said.

“As per statistics, we have received an average of 15 days rain in 24 hours, and weather systems say won’t stop till tomorrow evening,” Sena Youth leader Aditya Thackeray said.

Will get pumps fixed, please stay indoors: BMC Commissioner

In a press conference this evening, BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta has urged Mumbaikars to stay indoors and avoid stepping out saying all efforts are being put in to fix pumps that were not working.

Five to six pumps were not operating. We have got those pumps replaced. The main areas where waterlogging took place are Hidmata, Dadar, Kurla and Matunga," Ajoy Mehta said, urging people to stay away from beaches and from going to Marine Drive.

Train services between Churchgate and Andheri resume

Trains on the western route have resumed partially at 4.20 pm this evening bringing relief to several Mumbaikars stranded in the city. On the central route, some trains from Mumbai Central have been rescheduled while those from the Bandra Terminus are running on schedule.

Helicopters, rescue and medical teams are ready: Navy

The Indian Navy is on stand by and will move in if necessary, its PRO Capt DK Sharma told news agency ANI this afternoon. 

“We’ve already positioned at pre decided places as per standard operating procedures our helicopters, rescue and medical teams are ready. We are in touch with civic authorities, local police and HQ, we will do whatever is possible,” Capt Sharma said.

Mumbai high-tide forecast for the next seven days

Two dead in Sion-Koliwada

The incessant rains claimed two deaths today with a five-year-old and a sixty-year-old losing their lives after they were electrocuted. The city’s anti-flooding mechanism including the use of heavy pumping machinery failed to prevent water-logging in almost every part of the city including its suburbs.

Let Anti-Corruption Bureau probe nullah cleaning work: Oppn

As lakhs of commuters bore the brunt of monsoon woes today, opposition leader in Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde sought a probe by ACB into the alleged nullah cleaning scam.

The rains caused water-logging in almost all low-lying areas of Mumbai and its suburbs including Kurla, Chembur, Tilak Nagar, Andheri, Parel, Lower Parel, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Dombivili.

“There’s a huge scam in pre-monsoon preparedness work including nullah cleaning works. The scam amounts to Rs 4,000 crore in last 10 years,” Munde said.

Where have the 150 crore spent on nullah cleanliness this year gone, Munde added.

“It is a huge embarrassment that the financial capital comes to a standstill in the very first rains of the season,” he said. – PTI

The Shiv Sena, that runs the BMC, has cancelled its foundation day ceremony scheduled for later this evening.

With rains showing no signs of stopping, govt puts Navy on standby

The government has kept Navy divers as well as helicopters on standby in the city in case the monsoon situation worsens. The Met department has warned that rains will continue for the next 48 hours. The city has recieved 35 mm of water in just five hours this morning.

Flight operations delayed by 30 mins, airport operational    

Flight operations at the city airport were delayed by 30 minutes and three services had to be diverted due to incessant rain that has been lashing since late last evening.

“The airport is operational but the flights are delayed by 30 minutes,” a spokesperson for the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) said.

One flight each of Indigo and Jet Airways had to be diverted to Ahmedabad, while a Go Air flight had to be sent to Vadodara, she said.

The delays are due to “ATC congestion” as the rain has affected flight timings.

As for the visibility, the spokesperson said, it is at a comfortable 800-1,000 metres at present which can support flight operations.

A visibility of less than 500 metres can affect flight operations, she said.

The CSIA, which includes both the domestic as well as international terminals, is one of the busiest in the country as it serves the financial capital. – PTI

Here’s the tide forecast for Mumbai over the next one week

Met Dept warns of heavy rains over the next 48 hours

The Met department has warned of heavy rainfall and strong winds in Mumbai and the coastal Konkan region over the next two days. Mumbai recorded around 170 mm of rainfall till this morning; its suburbs recorded around 155 mm rainfall.

Even the newly cemented roads have not passed the Mumbai rains muster. Most of the speedbumps on the Andheri Kurla road seem to have eroded. 

As a precaution electricity supply has been shut off in certain parts of Mumbai.

Bombay HC shut due to heavy rains

The Bombay High Court has declared holiday today due to heavy rains that are lashing the city and its suburbs. All courts in Mumbai including the HC will remain shut for the day due to heavy rains, officials said. Normal life in Mumbai was today thrown out of gear as torrential rains battered the city and its suburbs resulting in cancellation of local train services leaving thousands of commuters stranded. PTI

Please stay away from the sea!

Your alternate mode of transport, just in case. 

Here are most affected areas in Mumbai.

Two minutes silence for the real heros of this monsoon downpour. They have no option of going back home. #respect

Empty roads on the Sea Link. 

Long distance trains from and to Mumbai have canceled until further notice.

Sharat Chandrayan, CPRO , Western Railway

“We have a contingency plan, if the trains cannot continue past Mumbai Central, we will reverse the trains back. We are in direct contact with the BMC who are trying their best to reduce the waterlogging on the tracks.”

Matunga Road, Mumbai. Pic: Swanand Warang 

View of a half submerged Tulsi Pipe Road in Matunga. Pic: Swanand Warang 

Not all Mumbai residents are happy though. Some are questioning the competency and preparation of the BMC ahead of the rains.