As Mumbai faced severe disruptions due to heavy rains on Monday morning, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took charge, chairing a high-level meeting to assess and respond to the unfolding situation across the state.
Addressing the media, CM Eknath Shinde stated, “Since last night, Mumbai has received 300mm of rain. Approximately 200 water pumps from the Railways and over 400 BMC water pumps are actively draining water. Train services on the Central and Harbour lines have resumed. Disaster management authorities, along with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, are on high alert.”
In a social media update, CM Shinde highlighted the impact of the heavy rains, stating, “Mumbai is experiencing traffic jams on roads and disruptions in railway services. The railway administration is working diligently to clear water from the tracks and restore normalcy soon.”
“I have instructed all emergency agencies to remain vigilant. Citizens are advised to venture out only if necessary. I urge the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Police Administration, and Emergency Services to coordinate effectively,” added CM Shinde.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the ongoing meeting at the Disaster Control Room includes Mumbai Guardian Minister MP Lodha, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Anil Patil, and other key officials to strategize response efforts.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Mumbai for July 9, predicting continued heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.
During the last 24 hours, Mumbai recorded significant rainfall, resulting in waterlogging and traffic disruptions. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported 83.8 mm of rainfall in Colaba and 267.9 mm in Santacruz. The total rainfall of 2547 mm is 27% of the average annual precipitation for this period.
Low-lying areas experienced waterlogging, affecting suburban train services notably at Worli, Buntara Bhavan in Kurla East, King’s Circle, Dadar, and Vidyavihar Railway Station. The BMC also noted that Powai Lake began overflowing early in the morning due to the heavy downpour.
“Powai Lake, with a water holding capacity of 545 crore litres, primarily used for industrial purposes, started overflowing at 4:45 am today,” shared BMC officials.