Mumbai marooned

As civic authorities described rainfall in the country’s financial capital as “unprecedented”, they said 283 mm of rain, which is normally received in 10 days, was witnessed in just 24 hours.

“The city has witnessed unprecedented rainfall in the last 24 hours, more than that it usually receives in 10 days. Mumbai witnessed 283 mm of rain in 24 hours,” said the city’s Municipal Commissioner <g data-gr-id="40">Ajoy</g> Mehta.

“Of the total annual average rainfall Mumbai witnesses, 10per cent of it has been received in 24 hours, which usually takes 10 days,” he added.

Mithi river is near the danger mark, according to Yuva Sena Chief Aditya Thackeray. 

Educational institutions were shut and government and private offices reported thin attendance. The Bombay High Court and other courts were also shut.

There seems to be no let up in the situation with the Meteorological Department predicting heavy to very heavy rains in the next 24 hours. 

According to an official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) disaster management unit, a five-year-old boy and a 60-year-old woman died of electrocution in Wadala in central Mumbai.

The airport was operational, but flight operations were delayed  at the airport by up to 45 minutes and three services had to be diverted due to incessant rains that <g data-gr-id="46">has</g> been lashing the financial capital since Thursday evening.

There was also massive disruption of vehicular traffic with waist-high waterlogging being reported in several areas. The rainwater also entered several homes. Mehta said Friday’s high tide witnessed in the city was of more than 3 metres high and Mumbai is likely to witness high tides of more than 4 metres, one around 2 am and another around 3:10 pm on Saturday.

“Since heavy rainfall, along with a high tide, is expected on Saturday, people should stay away from the sea and ensure that they do not walk on the promenade. Also, before leaving their homes, people should make sure that the route they plan to take is safe for travel,” he said. 

The rains caused water-logging in almost all low-lying areas of Mumbai and its suburbs, including Kurla, Chembur, Tilak Nagar, Andheri, Parel, Lower Parel, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Dombivili.

While Central Railway services are still cancelled, the Western Railway has resumed services on Andheri-Virar stretch. Thousands of office-goers were left stranded as trains were cancelled.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has appealed to people to venture out only if required and asked them to stay away from seafronts during high tide slots as it can prove “fatal”. Meanwhile, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp proved invaluable on Friday for several stranded commuters, helping them get real-time traffic and train updates.