The weather in Mumbai which is being pounded by heavy rains for more than two days — slid a few more notches this afternoon as the winds picked up, reaching up to 107 km per hour by late evening. The cyclonic wind velocity and rain drew warnings from the city police and Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray, who asked the people not to venture outdoors. Photos and messages on Twitter gave glimpses of the damage, which included tall cranes in the port area to roofs and sun shades flying off, overturned cars on roads and falling trees.
In various stretches, suburban train services — the lifeline of the financial capital — were stopped. The service of the city’s BEST buses and supply of electricity were also affected.
Three high capacity cranes deployed at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in adjoining Raigad district collapsed due to gusty winds in the afternoon, there was no casualty, news agency Press Trust of India reported, quoting an official. Late in the evening, the Vihar Lake, one of the two lakes that supply water to Mumbai, overflowed, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and promised all possible support, PM’s Office tweeted. Mr Thackeray’s Office said he has reviewed the situation in Mumbai and adjoining areas and instructed officials to be alert in view of the heavy rainfall predictions for tomorrow as well.
The iconic DY Patil stadium suffered damage.
In the evening, the meteorological department said the wind speed at Colaba increased to 107 km per hour. The weather office also said that extremely heavy rainfall is likely to continue. Mumbai and its adjoining areas will have rain and winds with speed reaching upto 70 km per hour till morning, the officials said.
The National Disaster Response Force said its teams are on stand-by at Nagpur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Thane, Kurla and Palghar for prompt response to disasters. Additional teams are kept in reserve and shall be mobilized as per requirement.
“Requesting all to remain indoors. Mumbai is lashed with high velocity winds and extremely heavy rain as we all can witness. I request all, especially journalists trying to cover this to remain safe. Stay put wherever you are,” Mr Thackeray’s son and state minister Aaditya Thackeray tweeted.
The Mumbai Police emphasized the message of safety.
“We request Mumbaikars to stay indoors and not venture out unless it’s extremely essential. Practice all necessary precautions and do not venture out near the shore or water logged areas. Please #Dial100 in any emergency. Take care & stay safe Mumbai,” they tweeted under hashtag #MumbaiRains.
At some Mumbai stations, trains couldn’t move due to waterlogging.
Since 7 on Monday evening, torrential rains have pounded the city. By the next 10 hours, the city had logged 230 mm of rainfall, making it the heaviest deluge since 2005.
Massive water-logging has taken place in low-lying areas. In suburban Santacruz, a 35-year-old woman and her two children were swept away in a swollen drain after their house collapsed yesterday morning.
The Mithi river swelled up and went above the danger mark, Iqbal Singh Chahal, commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had said.
On Tuesday, a red weather alert was issued for Mumbai and adjoining areas. Rains lashed Pune, Satara and Kolhapur districts in western Maharashtra, the officials said.
