Mumbai Rains: Main Runway Now Open, Sporadic Showers Expected
The IMD has predicted heavy rainfall in Mumbai, over the next 24 hours.
Heavy rains lashed Mumbai on 19 September, but the rainfall slowed down to light showers on 20 September, causing the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to withdraw their earlier warning.
However, light to moderate rainfall is expected to continue.
Schools and colleges remained shut on 20 September, as heavy showers were expected. The Dabbawalas suspended their tiffin services for the day amid showers. Flights and trains were both delayed and cancelled, and the airport’s main runway only resumed operations on Thursday morning after a 24-hour closure.
- Occasional spells of rain or thundershowers are likely to occur, the IMD said on Thursday
- The Mumbai airport’s main runway has resumed operations after a SpiceJet aircraft, which was stuck in mud for 24 hours, was finally towed away
- At least 108 flights were cancelled and about 51 diverted to nearby airports due to heavy showers and runway closure
- Mumbai Police had earlier warned of high tides at noon and at around 6 pm on Wednesday
- Rainfall is likely to decrease, but light to moderate rainfall will continue in Mumbai, an IMD scientist said on Wednesday
- Dabbawalas suspended tiffin services on Wednesday
- Several trains had been cancelled as well
- Schools and colleges in Mumbai Metropolitan Region remained closed on Wednesday
Sporadic Showers Expected
Occasional spells of rain and thundershowers are likely to occur, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as reported by ANI. The IMD also said that a couple of places could expect heavy rainfall.
Mumbai Airport's Main Runway Resumes Operations
After being closed for nearly 24 hours, the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport’s main runway finally resumed operations late on Wednesday night. A SpiceJet aircraft which was obstructing the runway, as it was stuck in mud, was finally towed away.
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Several Flights Cancelled
63 Jet Airways, 8 IndiGo and 3 SpiceJet and 1 GoAir flights cancelled due to bad weather at Mumbai airport.
Rains Likely to Decrease but Moderate to Light Rainfall to Continue
Airport's Main Runway Non-Operational, Flights Diverted
At least 13 Mumbai-Delhi flights have been delayed and 15 have been cancelled, reported ANI. In total, over 50 flights have been cancelled due to the closure of the Mumbai airport’s main runway.
At least 56 flights had to be diverted due to the same reason, reported ANI. However, the second runway is operational. Operations are currently slow on runway 14, reported ANI.
The Mumbai Airport spokesperson told ANI:
Bollywood Reacts to Mumbai Rains
Several Trains Delayed, Cancelled
Five Western Railways trains have been cancelled. Six Central Railways trains have been cancelled and two diverted, reported ANI.
The Trans-harbour line is running normally, but there’s a slight delay in the Harbour and Main lines, the Central Railways told ANI.
Mumbai Police Warns Against High Tides
The Mumbai Police has warned of a high tide at 12.03 pm and 6.04 pm on 20 September, reported PTI. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the deep sea, an IMD official told PTI.
No Dabba Service For the Day
Mumbai Dabbawalas Association spokesperson Subhash Talekar told ANI that they would not be delivering dabbas (of food) on 20 September due to heavy rains.
Flooding on Mumbai Roads Due to Heavy Rainfall
Airport Operations Suspended, Flights Diverted
The airport in Mumbai will be shut till 5 am on 20 September, as the visibility there dropped to 250 metres (well below the required 550 metres) and a SpiceJet flight overshot the runway and got stuck in mud.
Various flights have been diverted to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad. Goa and Bengaluru.
Spicejet Plane Overshoots Wet Runway at Mumbai Airport
A Spicejet plane carrying 183 people on Tuesday overshot a wet runway while landing at the Mumbai airport and got stuck in the mud, officials said. The passengers were safely evacuated using the emergency chute of the Boeing 737 aircraft, an airport official said.
The aircraft has finally been removed from the runway.
Schools And Colleges to be Shut on Wednesday
Schools and colleges in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have been instructed to remain closed on Wednesday in the backdrop of heavy rains, the Maharashtra government announced on Tuesday night.
Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde tweeted regarding the same:
Mumbai Receives 170 mm Rainfall in Last 12 Hrs: BMC
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mumbai has received around 170 mm of rainfall in the last 12 hours. The BMC further said that a high tide of 4.54 metres is expected at 12 noon on Wednesday.
Heavy Rainfall Expected Over the Next 24 Hours: IMD
The India Meteorological Department on Tuesday predicted heavy rainfall in the Konkan coast, including Mumbai, over the next 24 hours.
The department predicted heavy rainfall in the districts of Kolhapur, Satara and some districts of Vidarbha, apart from Mumbai.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI and IANS)
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