Mumbai warned of stormy weather, heavy rain

Stormy weather accompanied by heavy to very heavy rain is likely to disrupt Mumbai, coastal Konkan region, northern parts of the state and surrounding areas in the next couple of days, the met office here warned Friday.

In a special bulletin, the India Meterological Department (IMD) said that besides these areas, north-central Maharashtra and south Gujarat were also likely to experience heavy to very heavy rain in the next 48 hours.

"The weather conditions are a result of the monsoon depressions that had formed over the Odisha coast, which moved westwards inland," V.K. Rajeev Nair, director, IMD Mumbai, told IANS.

The depressions weakened into a well-marked low pressure area by Thursday as a result of which Vidarbha in east Maharashtra and other areas are experiencing heavy and very heavy rainfall since the past two-three days, claiming at least 107 lives so far, the met official said.

Under the influence of this low pressure area which is taking a west north-westerly course, north Maharashtra, north coastal areas and south Gujarat could experience heavy to very heavy rains.

Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the Arabian Sea and a local cautionary signal No. III has been hoisted at all ports in the state.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and all disaster agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force, has been alerted in Mumbai, Pune and other critical areas.

Officials are expected to remain in a state of preparedness over the next couple of days.