20 July,2024 07:29 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/Kirti Surve Parade
Heavy rains have been lashing Mumbai and the metropolitan region on Saturday morning as the India Meteorological Department had forecasted on Friday. The Saturday morning rains caused waterlogging in several parts of the city with the authorities closing Andheri Subway temporarily due to flooding. The Mumbai Traffic Police said the traffic route has been diverted to SV Road.
Per the IMD's latest Mumbai weather update, moderate spells of rain are expected at isolated places in Mumbai, Raigad, Thane, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg during the next three to four hours.
IMD's Mumbai centre stated in their nowcast warning issued at 7 am, "Moderate spells of rain very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai, Raigad, Thane, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg during next 3-4 hours."
"Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning & intense rainfall are very likely to occur in most places over the Bhandara, Chandrapur, Nagpur and Wardha districts of Vidarbha," the IMD further stated in their nowcast warning.
"Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning & light to moderate rainfall are very likely to occur at a few places over Gadchiroli, Gondia & Yavatmal and isolated places over the Amravati district of Vidarbha," the Met department stated in their weather update.
The maximum temperature in the city is likely to settle at 29 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature will be recorded at 25 degrees Celsius, IMD stated in its Mumbai weather update.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in its Mumbai weather update on Saturday, stated that a high tide of 4.24 meters will hit the city's coast at 11.28 am and another high tide will hit almost 12 hours later at 11.18 pm and it is expected to be 3.66 meters high.
The local council also stated that a low tide of around 2.02 metres is forecast at 5.33 pm on Friday.
On July 20, Mumbai had substantial rainfall between 6 am and 7 am, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation reporting over 40 mm of rain in locations such as Dindoshi, Goregaon, and Mulund, causing flooding in low-lying zones.
According to the BMC's Mumbai weather report, the island city had an average of 66 mm of rainfall between 8 pm on Friday and 6 am on Saturday, with the western suburbs receiving 57 mm and the eastern suburbs receiving 53 mm.
Notably, between 8 am to 9 am, locations such as NM Joshi Mun School, Sewree Koliwada Mun School, and Marvali Mun School received between 35 and 39 mm of rain. Despite the severe rain, rail service remained unharmed, while road transport had difficulties. Apart from the Andheri Subway, the Malad subway was also affected, resulting in BEST bus route diversions.
According to the BMC's Mumbai weather report at 9 am, the average rainfall recorded was 21 mm in the city, 16 mm in the eastern suburbs, and 10 mm in the western suburbs. The rain continued from 9 am until 10 am, with notable measurements of 17 mm at Shivri Koliwada and Pali Chambai Mun School, and 15 mm at various other schools and fire stations throughout the city. Throughout the morning, pumps were operated at various subways, including Andheri, Malad, Dahisar, Mankhrud, Poisar, and Khar, to alleviate the waterlogging, while the Andheri subway remained closed to traffic.
Meanwhile, the Mithi River level has risen to 1.43 metres. BMC reports showed two fallen trees in the city area, one in the eastern suburbs and one in the western suburbs, with no incidents of short circuits or house collapses.
Despite the weather conditions, railway traffic operated normally, while certain BEST bus routes experienced diversions, including routes passing through Shell Colony, Sheeta Talkies in Kurla, and Arey Unit No 22.
