409 mm in 36 hours: Relentless rain cripples Mumbai; roads, rail and air traffic hit

Mumbai experienced heavy rainfall over the past 21 hours, with some suburbs receiving more than 409 mm of rain. Heavy rains and floods have killed 6 people in various districts of Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, while five people are missing in Nanded district, and 293 have been rescued, as per the Maharashtra disaster management department.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Vikhroli recorded the highest rainfall, followed by Santacruz. Other areas such as Byculla, Juhu, Bandra, and Colaba also received significant rainfall.

A Mumbai Monorail train broke down between Bhakti Park and Chembur stations near Mysore Colony due to a power supply failure caused by overcrowding, which exceeded the train's designed capacity. 582 passengers stuck in the Mumbai Monorail were rescued by the Mumbai Fire Brigade. 23 passengers dealing with suffocation were treated onsite by the onboard doctor.

(BMC) has declared a holiday in all schools after heavy rains. The Maharashtra government on Monday permitted its departments to allow staff to leave offices early in view of the India Meteorological Department's red alert warning of heavy rainfall.

The sea conditions are rough with winds blowing at speeds of 50-60 km/h, and fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea. There is an alert for rough sea conditions and high waves hitting the coast. All district administrations have been instructed to stay alert.

Airlines issued a travel advisory for their passengers on Wednesday, amid predictions of heavy rains in Mumbai and its surrounding areas. According to the advisory, the heavy rains could lead to air traffic congestion, which could impact flight operations. Airlines informed that any changes to the flight schedule will be shared with passengers through their contact details.

Amid heavy and incessant rains and floods across Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday instructed all agencies to be on alert mode to control the situation. “The district collectors have been asked to provide immediate assistance in case of loss of life, livestock, and damage to houses.”

There is heavy rain in the catchment areas of many rivers in the state. Due to this, some rivers have reached the danger mark. However, in Mumbai, the Mithi River crossed the danger level. Due to this, about 400 people had to be shifted to a safe place. But now the situation is under control,” said the Chief Minister.

Vidarbha has reported crop damage over nearly two lakh hectares. Fadnavis said that there is prima facie information that crops on about 12 to 14 lakh acres in the state have been affected. The district collectors have been asked to provide immediate assistance in case of loss of life, livestock, and damage to houses. Panchnamas should also be done immediately for the damage.

The Khadakpurna dam of Deolgaon Raja district is 91% filled, and all its 19 gates have been opened up to 50 centimetres. Due to this, 45,876 cusecs of water are being released into the river. On the other hand, the Pentakali dam of Mehkar district is 88% filled. Since this morning, nine gates have been opened up to 20 cm, releasing 9,656 cusecs of water into the river.

The India Meteorological Department on Wednesday issued a fresh warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms in several parts of India, particularly in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. IMD issued a red nowcast warning for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and Ratnagiri districts, indicating intense to very intense rainfall spells accompanied by gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 60 kmph.