Heavy Rains Claim Four Lives in Mumbai

MUMBAI:
Four persons were washed away in separate incidents in Mumbai following torrential rains since yesterday, the police said.
The incidents were reported from Dahisar, Kandivli, Malad and Dadar areas, a senior police official said. While two were washed away in nullahs, one was washed away in a drain and the other was washed away during Ganesh idol immersion proceedings, he added.
In another incident, one person Rameshwar Tiwari was killed after the wall of a power sub-station fell on his house in Asalpha village in suburban Ghatkopar, police said. His 35-year-old wife and nine-year-old son sustained injuries in the incident that took place in the early hours, they added.
Torrential rains pounded the metropolis throughout the day yesterday. The city gauged a whopping 298 mm of rainfall, the highest in a day in August since 1997.
Rains to Continue Today
The State Disaster Management Authority has said rains in the megapolis, which came to a standstill following incessant downpour, are likely to be lesser today.
“The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall for today. However, it is likely to be lesser compared to yesterday,” a senior SDMA official said. Torrential rains pounded the metropolis throughout the day yesterday. The city gauged a whopping 298 mm of rainfall, the highest in a day in August since 1997.
“Also, there is much lesser congestion expected as the government has already announced that schools and offices will remain shut today,” he added. The official also said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on alert and the Navy too has kept divers and choppers on standby to evacuate people if needed.
Schools and colleges have been asked to remain shut by authorities amid indications of a fresh spell of heavy showers in the megapolis. The city and its suburbs virtually have a public holiday today with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis advising people to stay back home unless there is an emergency.
Sena Compliments Civic Body
Even as the country’s financial capital reeled under the impact of heavy rains, Shiv Sena, which rules the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, today complimented the civic body for ensuring that the situation did not “go out of hand”.
The saffron party has been ruling the cash-rich Mumbai civic body since over two decades. “The BMC’s preparedness to tackle the natural calamity ensured that the situation did not go out of hand. The civic body should be complimented for this. Even after heavy rains, no big untoward incident has taken place,” the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.
“Mumbai and Maharashtra have always received the blessings of Ganpati. We believe that God will ease this trouble as well,” the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said.
It said the heavy downpour reminded the megapolis of the cloudburst on July 26, 2005, when there was about 950 mm rainfall in 24 hours. “Even the IMD on Monday said the rainfall was more than their expectations. The sun was not visible throughout the day and the high tide added to the city’s woes. Yet, Mumbai’s spirit won over the natural calamity,” it said.
Torrential rains pounded the metropolis throughout the day yesterday. The city gauged a whopping 298 mm of rainfall, the highest in a day in August since 1997.
Three persons, including two children, were yesterday killed in separate house collapses in suburban Vikroli in the wake of torrential rains that lashed the megapolis, police had said.
The city and its suburbs virtually have a public holiday today with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis advising people to stay back home unless there is an emergency.
Navy Opens Community Kitchens, Food Counters in Mumbai
The Navy has opened community kitchens and food counters at various locations in the megapolis to provide relief to commuters stranded in torrential rainfall.
“Community kitchens providing food opened at Churchgate, Byculla, Parel, CST, Worli and Tardeo, Mumbai Central, Dadar, Mankhurd, Chembur, Malad and Ghatkopar,” a Navy spokesperson said.
“Food counters opened at various locations in Mumbai for stranded commuters,” the spokesperson tweeted.
“Indian Navy for you…Anytime Anywhere Everytime,” he added.
The Western Naval Command has made arrangements to provide shelter to Mumbaikars who were left stranded after heavy rains lashed the metropolis yesterday. “WNC has made arrangements to provide shelter to stranded Mumbaikars at Colaba, Worli and Ghatkopar,” the spokesperson said.
“Shelters are being provided at Sagar Institute Colaba, INS Trata Worli, INS Hamla Marve and Material Organisation Ghatkopar,” he added.
Naval helicopters have been kept on standby to meet any eventuality after heavy rains battered Mumbai and its adjoining areas, the Navy said. Flood rescue teams and divers are also ready for deployment. “Seaking 42 C ready for day/night Search and Rescue.
Medical teams and Divers ready for immediate deployment,” the spokesperson tweeted. Five flood rescue teams and two diving teams are also ready to render assistance at different locations across Mumbai, he added.
The metropolis received torrential rains the entire day yesterday and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy showers today as well.