Mumbai rains: Flight operations resume, city reels under massive waterlogging
On Saturday morning, normal flight operations resumed in Mumbai after heavy rain forced the diversion of 17 inbound flights on Friday evening.
According to reports, seven aircraft including – five Indigo, one Air India and one Emirates aircraft – had taken off from the Mumbai airport at around 7:42 am.
Heavy rains lashed Mumbai on Friday flooding several areas and severely affecting the road, rail and air traffic.
The rain had also forced the cancellations of seven outbound flights and four incoming planes while eight flights were asked to circle and nine were diverted past midnight.
Mumbai’s suburbs received 73-303 mm rainfall in the 24 hours starting on Friday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. It also predicted heavy rainfall through Saturday as well. A few spells of heavy rain across isolated areas in the city and its suburbs have been predicted on Sunday.
NDTV reported that in Juhu Tara Road, Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road, several stretches of SV Road and parts of Western Express Highway due to waterlogging.
Traffic jam on the Western Express Highway started before the toll plaza at Bandra and extended all the way up to Borivali, around 25 km away.
Rail services too have been hampered by the intermittent rains.
"Very heavy rains in Kurla-Thane belt and very-very heavy rains beyond Kalyan. As a precautionary measure, we have suspended services from Kalyan to Karjat/Khopoli. Services on all other corridors of Central railway are running," Chief Public Relation Officer, Central Railway said.
Mahalaxmi express is held up between Badlapur and Wangni stations with around 700 passengers. Central Railway has asked for help from local municipal disaster manager cell. Chief public relation officer of Central Railway Sunil Udasi said a team of 40 NDRF personnel have been deployed to rescue the passengers. “We have also asked the local civic bodies to send in help,” said Udasi.
Mumbai Police requested people not to venture in waterlogged areas and to maintain distance from the sea.
"City is expecting intermittent heavy showers all through the night. We request commuters to not venture in water-logged areas and also request you all to maintain distance from the sea. Please tweet to us or call on 100 in any emergency/need of help," said Mumbai Police.
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said rainfall intensity is "very likely" to increase over North Konkan during next 48 hours.
"Due to the strengthening of monsoon currents and formation of low-pressure area over North West Bay of Bengal, rainfall intensity is very likely to increase over North Konkan during next 48 hours," IMD said.
The IMD had sounded an orange alert for Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra. An orange alert signifies that the authorities should get ready for necessary action.