Can’t Control Rains: Bombay HC Questions Mumbai’s Ill-Preparedness
The Bombay HC said the situation in the city has not improved in the past few years.
At least 10 people have been killed in Mumbai and the neighbouring districts of Thane and Palghar, after nearly 24 hours of heavy rainfall on 29 August, Tuesday. The city saw lesser rainfall on Wednesday, but severe flooding and waterlogging persisted in several parts of the city. At 331.4 mm, Mumbai saw the heaviest rainfall on Tuesday since the 2005 deluge. However, the BMC said that the situation is not as bad as that of the 2005 floods.
- At least 10 people have died and several others affected after 24 hours of heavy rainfall in Mumbai and neighbouring districts
- “Mumbai is not going to see rains for a few hours as the monsoon clouds have moved towards north,” KS Hosalikar, DDG of IMD said
- Local train services have resumed, but delays are expected
- Mumbai airport resumes normal operations
- Parts of the city reported flooding and water-logging, throwing traffic out of gear
Bombay HC Says Can't Control Nature
The Bombay High Court has said we cannot control nature but the situation in the city of Mumbai, which has been facing floods during monsoons regularly, has not improved in the past few years.
The remarks were made by a division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice NM Jamdar while hearing a PIL by advocate Atal Bihari Dubey seeking a second doppler radar system to be set up in the city and other measures to be taken to ensure that people do not suffer due to floods.
The PIL was filed a few years back and in 2016 the court was informed by the Maharashtra government and the BMC that a site was identified and sanctioned in suburban Goregaon to set up a doppler radar.
Stay Safe Indoors, Says NDMA
Met Dept Issued Red Alert but BMC, Govt Did Not Act
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert about heavy rains two days ago, i.e on Monday.
Despite this warning, neither the BMC nor the Maharashtra government took adequate measures to avoid the severe crisis that the maximum city came face to face with on Tuesday.
Read the full story here.
10 Killed, Nine Washed Away
Torrential rains and subsequent flooding claimed at least 10 lives in Mumbai and the neighbouring districts of Palghar and Thane since yesterday.
Nine people were washed away in separate incidents in the city, while two lost their lives due to drowning in adjoining districts of Palghar and Thane. Another man was killed when a wall came crashing down on him in Mumbai's Ghatkopar.
Anupam Kher Ditches His Car, Takes an Auto
Scenes From Day 2 of the Deluge in Mumbai
Mumbai Is Getting Back on Its Feet
NDRF Dispatches More Teams
At 331.4 mm, Mumbai Gets Heaviest Rainfall Since 2005
The Santacruz observatory of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) registered 331.4 mm rainfall on Tuesday, the heaviest since the 26 July 2005 record of 944 mm, which had caused the worst havoc in decades in the city.
This is also the highest rainfall in a day in August since 1997. It was second only to 346.2 mm of rainfall registered on 23 August 1997, the data showed.
Shiv Sena Praises BMC as Mumbai Drowns
Even as the country's financial capital reeled under the impact of heavy rains, Shiv Sena, which rules the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, complimented the civic body for ensuring that the situation did not "go out of hand".
In an editorial in its party mouthpiece Saamana, the saffron party, which has been ruling the cash-rich Mumbai civic body for over two decades now, said:
Man Drowns in Powai Lake
A 32-year-old man drowned in the Powai lake in Mumbai. He was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital but was declared brought dead. An Accidental Death Report has been registered.
Free Health Camps, Courtesy Shiv Sena
Life Limps Back to Normalcy in Mumbai
Routes that are usually busy remained deserted on 30 August, after 24 hours of heavy rainfall. Areas like Lower Parel are however, still submerged in water.
The western lines have resumed their operations but many trains are either being cancelled or delayed.
In Dahisar west, the water seems to have receded leaving behind a lot of garbage.
BJP Minister Opens up His Home as Shelter
Maharashtra Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat has appealed to people stranded in south Mumbai, to take shelter in his official residence for the time being.
In his appeal made through Facebook, the BJP leader, who hails from Pune, said that people stranded in areas such as Fort, and at Mantralaya can rest or stay in his official residence 'Dnyaneshwari', located at Malabar Hill, till the situation shows improvement.
Dozens, Mostly Senior Citizens Missing
A dozen people, mainly senior citizens, are reportedly missing in different parts of Mumbai though many are suspected as 'lost' or temporarily not able to communicate.
Their anxious relatives have sent social media messages with pictures seeking information on their near-and-dear ones while making police complaints.
Western Railway Releases List of Cancelled Trains
Man Falls to Death in Open Manhole
A man died after falling into an open manhole on Dadar's Matkar road. The Mumbai Police registered a case on the accounts provided by eyewitness.
Airport Back on Track
Mumbai airport resumes operations normally, the PRO of Mumbai airport said.
BEST Buses Best the Rain
The Mumbai civic body's transport wing BEST has moved in to fill the void created by suspension of suburban train services due to heavy rains by operating over 100 extra buses.
The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) has been operating the extra buses since yesterday to ferry commuters stranded at various places, an official of the civic undertaking said. "We ran 109 extra buses on important routes yesterday and today too, we are running additional buses on the Colaba-Thane route," BEST spokesperson Manoj Varade said.
The suburban train network, which carries over 65 lakh passengers a day, is the lifeline of the financial capital.
Mumbai Police Offers Free Towing Service
Mumbai police, who have been a constant source of help on Tuesday, continued to offer services today. In a tweet, they offered free towing services for vehicles running out of petrol.
Mumbai Dabbawalas Take a Break
Mumbai's famed 'dabbawalas' today cancelled their delivery of over two lakh tiffins to office goers in the city in view of the disruption of suburban rail services. The dabbawalas, who had ventured out on their task yesterday, returned home only this morning after being stranded at railway stations.
"The over 5,000 'dabbawalas' who deliver around two lakh 'dabbas' (tiffins) a day won't be able to do so today as they returned only this morning after being stranded at railway stations," Subhash Talekar, spokesperson of the Mumbai Dabbawala Association told PTI.
"We will resume our services tomorrow," he said.
Mumbai Won't See Rains for a Few Hours: IMD
“Mumbai is not going to see rains for a few hours as the monsoon clouds have moved towards north,” KS Hosalikar, DDG of IMD said.
Train services have resumed on Harbour line.
Indian Navy Distributes Breakfast to People in Parel
A commander of the Indian Navy told ANI: “We provided food to about 1000 people in the morning. 700-800 more are being served right now. We have prepared for more to help people stranded in the rains”.
Things Have Improved, Not As Bad As In 2005: Ajoy Mehta
Despite receiving large scale criticism from Mumbaikars for once again failing to save the city from the onslaught of the rains, BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta nonchalantly says, “Situation is better than it was during the 2005 deluge.”
On Tuesday, when rains wreaked havoc in the megapolis almost bringing it down on its knees, Mehta was manning the fort at city’s civic headquarters with four of his additional municipal commissioners.
At Least 6 Dead
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.
Mumbai Rains: The Quint's Ground Report
Local Trains To Run Through The Night For People Stranded In Rains
Trains will run through the night if needed to evacuate passengers stranded in stations, the railways tweeted, as rain-hit suburban train services in Mumbai slowly limped back to normalcy with the first train in hours chugging out of the Churchgate station around midnight.
The first train left Churchgate in south Mumbai for Virar at 2358 hrs, the Western Railway tweeted. There was, however, no clarity over the fate of the trains of the Central Railway, which originates from the Chhtrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. The CR tweeted around 11:30 pm that services on the Thane-Kalyan line, which is a section on the main line, had resumed.
Traffic on the Western Railway suburban network came to a grinding halt earlier today due to torrential downpour.
No Respite for Mumbaikars, Heavy Rain Expected Till 12 Noon on 30 Aug
The Quint spoke to the Met department to get an idea of what the situation in Mumbai will be for next 24 hours.
Krishnanand Hosalikar, Deputy Director General of the IMD said:
Hosalikar said the Northern part of Mumbai is expected to get more rain in the Boriwali, Kandiwali suburbs.
Relief Center Contact Information
If you are stuck at any of these locations, reach out to these relief centers nearby for food and shelter.
Local Trains from Churchgate to Andheri Suspended
PM Assures Help to State Govt
Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured support to the Maharashtra state government to tackle the situation and also advised people to take all essential precautions in the wake of the heavy rain.
Bandra Worli Sea Link Open Again
Navy on Stand by With Flood Rescue Teams
Five flood rescue teams and two diving team have been on standby to offer assistance to those stranded, a Navy Spokesperson said.
"WNC has made arrangements to provide shelter to stranded Mumbaikars at Colaba, Worli and Ghatkopar," a Navy spokesperson said.
Mumbai Airport Shut Down Temporarily
Operations at Mumbai airport has been suspended for some time due to low visibility, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport PRO said.
Train Services Between Churchgate and Andheri Suspended Again
CMO's Tweet to Mumbaikars
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis advised citizens to stay indoors as mich as possible and take a note of all police and BMC advisories.
Train Services Between Churchgate and Andheri Resume
The Fast Line train services between Churchgate and Andheri have been resumed.
Mumbaikars Turn Rain Hosts
Mumbaikars are offering help and safe, dry places to fellow citizens stuck on the roads and in the trains of Mumbai. Depending on your where you’re stuck, you could reach out for help to the #RainHost nearest to you.
High Tide Warning by Mumbai Police
Mumbai Police cautioned about high tides of 3.32 meters at 4:30 pm, urging citizens to cooperate with policemen and avoid promenades.
Watch: Railway Tracks Submerged Between Elphinstone Road to Dadar Station
Local Trains and Traffic Updates
The train services between Elphinstone Road and Dadar from 1:30 pm onwards.
Mumbai Police warned Mumbaikars about waterlogging at Byculla station near Palace cinema. Worli Sea Link towards South Mumbai has been closed for some time for clearing Traffic ahead, they informed.
Visuals of the Mumbai Airport
As many as 90 percent of the flights are running late in Mumbai airport.
“Flights are delayed obviously as there is plenty of go-around due to poor visibility,” MRam Manekar, Group Head and Vice President Corporate Communications at GVK told Money Control.
KEM Hospital Flooded
Rains flooded Mumbai’s largest Municipal Hospital which has a facility of around 2,000 beds. Quoting doctors, Hindustan Times reported that the pediatric ward was knee-deep in water.
Meanwhile, at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, the ceiling has been leaking in an OT.
Boats Are Out In Parel
Due to traffic and water logging, some people resorted to boats in Parel.
Dadar Records 115 mm of Rain in Just 3 Hours
In only a span of three hours, Dadar recorded 115 mm of rain, while Mahalaxmi recorded 105 mm of rain, SkymetWeather said.
Mumbaikars Take to Twitter to Share Photos and Videos
Bandra Railway Line Affected Due to Rains, Traffic Slow
Western Railway put up cautionary tweets informing people about the Fast line being affected due to heavy water logging at Bandra.
Mumbai police also warned about slow traffic due to a mishap in Churchgate.
Here are few helpline numbers.
Watch: The Quint’s Goes Live from Elphinstone Road Station
Torrential rains threw normal life out of gear in Mumbai and triggered a landslide which derailed an express train while the flood situation improved slightly in Bihar with no fresh deaths reported today.
The rains disrupted rail, road and air services, uprooting trees, swamping homes, and bringing the megapolis and satellite towns to their knees. But there were no casualties.
People's woes were compounded by the high tide that prevented natural drainage of water into the sea.
Meteorological department sources said Mumbai recorded copious rain of 65 mm in just three hours.
Trains were running late or stopped on all three suburban railway lines as tracks were submerged at several place
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)