Friday’s rainfall of 253 mm in Santacruz is the second-highest in July in the past 10 years, incessant showers within 12 hours, combined with a 3.6-m high tide inundate low-lying areas
A waterlogged LBS Road in Kurla on Friday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
Mumbai suburbs received the highest rainfall of the season, with Santacruz receiving 253 mm of rain in a single day — the second-highest July rainfall in the past 10 years. The heavy rain, combined with a high tide of 3.6 metres, resulted in waterlogging in many low lying areas of the city. But the rain receded after 9 am and helped drain out the water.
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Of the 253 mm rain recorded at the Santacruz observatory of the Indian Meteorology Department (IMD), 250 mm rain was received in only 12 hours till 8.30 am on Friday. On the other hand, the Colaba observatory recorded only 11 mm of rain in the same duration. Earlier on June 9, Santacruz received 222 mm rainfall in 24 hours.
Later, from 8.30 am to 8.30 pm on Friday, Santacruz recorded 14.1 mm rainfall and Colaba recorded 4 mm rainfall.
July and August are considered the months of heavy rainfall. In 2019, 375 mm rain was recorded on July 2. The highest July rainfall was recorded during the flood of July 27, 2005.
A waterlogged society in Thakur Village, Kandivli. Pic/Satej Shinde
The rain along with a high tide of 3.6 metres at 3.50 am resulted in waterlogging in many low-lying areas including Dadar TT, Gandhi Market, Sion, Hindmata, Wadala Bridge, Kurla Subway, Mankhurd Subway, RCF colony, Anushakti Nagar, Oberoi Mall, Milan Subway, Sainath Subway, Andheri Market, Khar Station, National college, Dahisar Subway, etc.
The rain also caused the Mithi River to touch the danger mark. As a precautionary measure, the civic body evacuated 250 people and shifted them to a school in Bailbajar, Kurla. The people returned to their homes after the water level receded.
Lakes still waiting
Tulsi and Vihar lakes, located in the city, received 110 mm and 67 mm rain respectively. But the other lakes, which form 98 per cent of the combined storage capacity, continue to wait for rain. All the five lakes located outside the city limits — Upper Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Madhya Vaitarna and Bhatsa, received less than 16 mm rain in 24 hours till 6 am on Friday. The lakes have 2.49 lakh million litres (ML) of water against the total capacity of 14.47 lakh ML. Last year, the lakes were filled up to 3.73 lakh ML water and in 2019, the stock was 7.06 lakh ML on the same day.
Tulasi lake, located in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, started overflowing at 11 am on Friday. Its water storage capacity is 8,046 ML and constitutes just a little over half a per cent of the combined stock. Last year, the lake overflowed on July 27. In 2019, it started overflowing on July 9. The lake was built in 1879.
July rainfall in past decade
2020 - 191 mm
2019 - 375 mm
2018 - 184 mm
2017 - 163 mm
2016 - 115 mm
2015 - 61 mm
2014 - 207 mm
2013 - 215 mm
2012 - 76 mm
2011 - 192 mm
Highest rainfall - 944 mm on July 27, 2005
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