Rains escalate water-logging crisis

Mumbai: Heavy rains, which began on Saturday, continued to lash Mumbai on Sunday, leaving several parts of the city waterlogged. Between 12 am and 3 pm on Sunday, the city area recorded the highest rainfall at 187mm at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) office in Fort, with Colaba and Sewri recording rains at 167mm and 158mm respectively.

Water-logging was reported at Vikhroli, Hindmata, Chembur and Kurla where traffic was disrupted as cars were submerged in the water.

The IMD has attributed the heavy rains to north westerly to westerly winds over coast, enhancing rainfall over North Konkan including Mumbai, Thane and Palghar. Meanwhile, a portion of the three-storeyed Bhushan Bhavan building collapsed at Halao Pool in Kurla area, Fire Brigade and police were present at the spot. No injuries were reported.

On Sunday, the Colaba observatory recorded 112mm of rainfall between 8.30 am and 2.30 pm, while the Santacruz observatory recorded 37.2mm rains.

Meanwhile, between 12 am and 3 pm on the same day eastern suburbs, Kurla recorded 137mm of rainfall while Ghatkopar recorded 132mm of rains. In western suburbs, Marol recorded 161mm of rains, followed by Versova (131mm) and BKC (126mm).

Areas like Parel, Gandhi Market, Sion and Antop hill too reeled with water-logging issues as citizens were seen wading through knee-deep water. According to BMC, around 111 de-watering pumps were being operated including six major pumps in the city.

Civic officials also added that the city witnessed 13 collapse incidents – five in eastern suburbs while four each in city area and western suburbs in last two days.

“Many stations recorded rainfall of more than 90mm till noon on Sunday. It is raining heavily towards Mumbai city as compared to suburbs today,” said K S Hosalikar, Deputy Director General (western region), IMD.