Mumbai ground to a standstill on Sunday amid intense rainfall and waterlogging in many areas. The IMD sounded a red alert for the entire MMR after some areas received nearly 100 millimeters of rainfall overnight — forecasting “extremely
heavy rainfall and thunderstorms”. Incessant rains also battered several parts of Marathwada over the weekend, cutting off villages and inundating low-lying roads and bridges in the traditionally drought-prone region.
Data shared by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation indicated that some of the westerns suburbs recorded more than 50 mm rainfall in five hours from 8 am to 1 pm. Local train services continued with some delays on both the Central and Western lines while BEST busses plied without any major diversions.
IMD sounds red alert
According to the India Meteorological Department, Mumbai and its neighbouring districts will receive extremely heavy rainfall on Sunday. The forecast outlined an orange alert for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts on Monday — predicting “heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places”.
“A well-marked low-pressure area lay over West Vidarbha and adjoining North Madhya Maharashtra. Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rainfall likely at some places over Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra, Gujarat state between September 28 and October 1. Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is also likely over north Konkan (including Mumbai), north Madhya Maharashtra and south Gujarat Region on September 28,” the IMD bulletin explained on Sunday afternoon.
Fadnavis reviews Marathwada rain situation
More than 11,500 persons were moved to safer places in central Marathwada on Sunday — with the authorities expecting more inflow into the Jayakwadi dam in the region. Two peoplewere killed due to rain-related incidents in the Dharashiv district. The situation turned grim — particularly in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nanded districts — after the water level rose in Godavari river due to discharge from the Jayakwadi dam. This compelled the relocation of those living on its banks and low-lying areas. Around 7,000 persons were evacuated from Paithan town in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar after the water discharge from the Jayakwadi (the largest reservoir in the region) reached 2.26 lakh cusecs.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday reviewed the rainfall situation and ongoing relief operations in eight Marathwada districts and Solapur, and directed officials to intensify field-level efforts.