Mumbai experienced a wet and tumultuous Saturday as heavy rains lashed the city and its neighbouring regions, prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to advise citizens to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Sunday, indicating a temporary reduction in rainfall intensity. However, an orange alert has been declared for Monday, forecasting heavy to very heavy rains at isolated locations within the city. The IMD’s Colaba and Santacruz observatories recorded 58 mm and 38 mm of rainfall respectively in the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 am on Saturday. An orange alert was also issued for Mumbai, Palghar, and Thane, warning of continued heavy rains for the remainder of the day, while Raigad faced a red alert, signifying extremely heavy rainfall. The deluge caused significant disruptions across Mumbai. Low-lying areas, such as the Andheri subway, experienced waterlogging.
Additionally, there were 16 incidents of trees crashing, two wall collapses, and five short circuits reported. Fortunately, no injuries were recorded in these incidents. In the 12 hours ending at 8:30 pm on Saturday, the Colaba and Santacruz observatories reported 47.6 mm and 47.7 mm of rainfall, respectively. Thane, a neighbouring area, recorded 63 mm of rainfall during the same period. The high tide at 4:39 pm on Saturday reached 3.69 metres, and despite authorities’ efforts to discourage public gatherings along beach fronts, many people were seen at promenades such as Marine Drive and Bandra. The heavy rains have had a positive impact on the water levels in the seven lakes that supply water to Mumbai, with stocks rising to 3.61 lakh million litres, which is 25% of their capacity. This increase in water reserves is crucial for the city, which often faces water scarcity issues.
The ongoing monsoon season highlights the importance of preparedness and resilient infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of heavy rainfall. Authorities and citizens alike must remain vigilant, particularly with more heavy rains forecasted in the coming days. The IMD’s alerts serve as a critical reminder for the city to brace itself for potential challenges and ensure safety and minimal disruption to daily life.
