Maharashtra likely to witness more downpour, IMD issues high alert for next four days

With parts of Maharashtra, including capital Mumbai, witnessing heavy rains, state Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the officials, where he asked them to remain alert and take necessary steps to ensure that there is no loss of life during the monsoon.

He also directed the railway authorities and the Mumbai civic administration to appoint a nodal officer for coordination between them and for dissemination of information about water-logging and disruption of suburban train services in Mumbai during the ongoing rainy season.

During the meeting held here for reviewing the status of the overall preparedness for dealing with any eventuality arising out of the monsoon, Shinde asked the railway machinery to remain alert and coordinate with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a statement from the chief minister's office (CMO) said.

Chief minister Eknath Shinde directed all municipal corporations and agencies including MSRDC, MMRDA to immediately take up repair of potholes on roads within their respective jurisdictions in Thane district. Shinde had called a meet of civic and rescue officials at the collector office in Thane to review the preparations to avert/tackle any rain-related disaster.

At least 12 hamlets were cut off after a bridge got flooded due to heavy rains and flooding in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official said on Wednesday. According to authorities, Pandartara bridge, which connects Usgaon in Vasai taluka, was inundated and submerged because of incessant rainfall in the region. At least 12 hamlets in the region are cut off and the situation will remain so for a couple of days till the water recedes, they said.