[ad_1]
Mumbai recorded heavy showers on Friday as the rain level recorded in the outermost city exceeded 100 mm in nine hours. The city also exceeded the 1,000 mm level of rainfall in July in just three weeks.
On Friday, the Santacruz Observatory of the Indian Meteorological Department recorded 115.2 mm of rain between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, while the Coastal Observatory in Colaba recorded 92.2 mm of rain during the same period. Also, during a three-hour period between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Friday, the maximum city recorded an extreme rainfall of 89 mm.
Due to heavy rains, waterlogging has been reported from almost everywhere in the island city and suburban belt.
Iqbal Singh Chahal, a municipal commissioner and state-appointed official who inspected the rain situation in Mumbai, told The Indian Express that the heavy rains combined with high tides prevented the accumulated rainwater from draining.
Sushma Nair, a scientist from IMD Mumbai, said Friday’s mantra was the result of several factors, including cyclonic formation and low pressure that originated in the Bay of Bengal.
“The monsoon basin is currently below normal and a cyclonic cycle has developed over southern Chhattisgarh and its adjoining places. Based on these factors, Mumbai along with adjoining districts of Thane, Palghar and Raigad experienced heavy rainfall.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for Mumbai through Saturday, stating that “very heavy” rain will continue in the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, Thane, Raigad and Palghar have been issued a red alert due to continuing heavy rains.
“Till the end of the weekend, a wave of moderate to heavy rains is expected in Mumbai as there is a chance of formation of another low pressure that will intensify the rainy situation in Mumbai and adjoining areas,” added Nair.
Meanwhile, Friday’s rains caused heavy water inundation in several pockets of the city. Andheri MRT has been closed to vehicular and pedestrian movements as water has accumulated inside. Western Expressways and Eastern Expressways also recorded heavy traffic as vehicular traffic was affected.
Significant waterlogging has been reported from Chembur, Vikhroli, Mulund and Bhandup. The SV and Link roads – two major connections in the western suburbs – were also badly affected with many places being flooded. In addition, potholes also became a contributing factor to water saturation on Friday. In the afternoon, a delegation of civil officials led by Chahal visited the waterlogged areas of Mumbai.
“There was a high tide in Mumbai between 12 and 1pm, and most of the city’s stormwater drainage went under water during this period. Unfortunately, a heavy wave of rain close to 100 mm in Mumbai was overwhelming as there was no room for dewatering pumps and all other countermeasures to work effectively. After the tide receded, the backlog was immediately channeled, and traffic returned within two hours… I have visited all places, starting with Hind mata in the island city to Andheri Subway, only to find out that the water level has dissipated.”
IMD data also showed that several pockets of Mumbai recorded rainfall above 100mm, including Chembur with 128mm of rain, followed by Andheri (127mm), Vikhroli (123mm), Bandra (112mm), and Dadar (104mm). During the previous 24-hour cycle, which ended at 8:20 a.m. Friday, Santacruz and Colaba recorded 29 mm and 23 mm of rain.
On Friday, the average water level in the city’s lakes was 42.75 percent – up 3 percent in the past 24 hours. Its capacity for Tulsi Lake, which overflowed on Thursday, reached 100 percent on Friday. During the past 24 hours, 103 mm of rain was recorded in the catchment area of ​​Modak Sagar Lake, followed by Tulsi Lake (90 mm), Tansa Lake (87 mm), Bhatsa Lake (50 mm), Middle Vaitarna (46 mm), Vihar Lake (30 mm), and Upper Vaitarna (28 mm).
[ad_2]
