Mumbai weather update: IMD issues red alert for city, predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall

Pic/Sameer Abedi

Heavy rains lashed Mumbai and its suburbs on Thursday, causing waterlogging on roads in some areas that led to traffic snarls and also delayed local train operations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest Mumbai weather update, has issued a red alert for Mumbai and the neighbouring districts of Thane and Raigad on Thursday, saying that there was a likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall, alongside extremely heavy rainfall in isolated pockets.

The weather department, in its latest Mumbai weather update, has issued "red" alert for Mumbai until July 26 morning 8.30 am.

Owing to incessant rains in the catchment areas, Vihar and Modak Sagar lakes started overflowing. With this, four of the seven reservoirs providing potable water to the metropolis are now overflowing, which improved the overall water stock.

Due to incessant rains, the water level of Mithi river, which runs through the industrial hub of the city, rose to 2.5 metres, while its danger mark is 4.2 metres, an official said, adding that a high tide of 4.64 metres has been predicted in the Arabian Sea at 2.51 pm.

Vihar lake, one of the seven lakes supplying water to Mumbai, started overflowing at around 3.50 am, while Modak Sagar started overflowing at 10.40 am, the officials said. Powai and Tulsi lakes have already started overflowing.

The IMD forecast that Mumbai will most likely witness occasional gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph, they said.

In the 24 hours ending 8 am on Thursday, the island city recorded 44 mm rainfall, its eastern and western suburbs 90 mm and 89 mm rainfall, respectively, a civic official said.

Some low-lying areas saw waterlogging due to the heavy rains since early morning, forcing the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), which operates passenger buses in the city, to divert its vehicles on half a dozen routes in Aarey Colony.

Commuters complained that the suburban services operated by the Western Railway and the Central Railway were running 10-15 minutes late.