Torrential rains, flooding paralyse Maharashtra

Torrential rains lashed Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad and other parts of Maharashtra for the fourth consecutive day, severely affecting normal life and also paralysed local train and bus services in the state capital.

Many parts of Mumbai and suburbs were inundated with upto three to four feet of water, on the highways, main and arterial roads, bylanes, housing complexes, railway stations and even the Mumbai Airport.

However, barring incidents of tree collapse in different parts of the city, flooding and waterlogging, there have been no reports of any casualties so far.

The rains also led to a landslide in Thane district, leading to derailment of 10 coaches of the Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express on Tuesday. There were no injuries in the accident.

The torrential rains are also likely to hit the immersion ceremonies on the fifth day of the Ganeshotsav on Tuesday.

The suburban local train was massively hit with disruption in services as the railway tracks were flooded at several places on the Central Railway mainline, Harbour Line, Western Railway and Konkan Railway.

Lakhs of commuters were stranded in trains, railway stations or at bus stops. Many failed to reach their destinations and were compelled to return to their homes.

Waterlogging has been reported from Dahisar, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Santacruz, Bandra, Matunga, Dadar, Elphinstone, Mumbai Central, Mazagaon, Lalbaug, Parel, Sion, Wadala, Bhandup and other areas.

The rains have affected normal operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport with flights getting delayed by 15-20 minutes mainly on account of low visibility.

Five arriving flights were made to go around till landing permission was granted while two flights were diverted.

Domestic and international passengers bound for the airport to catch their flights faced huge problems in reaching on time due to massive traffic snarls on the highways and main roads.

The Mumbai IMD head K.S. Hosalikar said that in three hours since 8.30 a.m., Mumbai suburbs recorded a whopping 86 mm of rains, while Colaba recorded around 16 mm of rains.

"It's not a 26/7 (2005) type situation as the cloud cover over Mumbai is not that thick. However, we have issued weather warnings to the disaster units of Maharashtra government and the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation," Hosalikar told mediapersons.

He said the IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rains for at least the next 24 hours all over Maharashtra, especially over the coastal North Konkan, Mumbai and other parts.

The IMD warning says "intense precipitation likely to occur over Mumbai city, suburbs, Dahanu and Raigad during the latter part today (Tuesday)".

--IANS

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