Heavy rains batter Mumbai: Flights delayed; waterlogging, traffic jams reported
Heavy rainfall has once again brought life to a standstill in Mumbai where massive waterlogging and traffic snarls due to the downpour were reported from across the city. Flight operations at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (MIAL) were also affected. Flights were delayed by 30 minutes on average in the evening due to the heavy downpour, said MIAL Public Relations Officer. Here's more.
"Flights are delayed by 30 minutes on average due to heavy rains since the last two hours," the MIAL Public Relations Officer was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Meanwhile, private weather forecasting agency Skymet said that rainfall will continue to be intense in Mumbai for the next few hours, adding that waterlogging is likely in more areas.
#MumbaiRains to continue to be intense for the next few hours, water logging in more areas. #MumbaiRainlive #MumbaiRainsLiveUpdates pic.twitter.com/TeMW170obB
— SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) July 26, 2019
Mumbai Police requested people to keep away from water-logged areas and the sea in view of the downpour. It tweeted, "City is expecting intermittent heavy showers all through the night. We request commuters to not venture in water logged areas & also request you all to maintain distance from the sea. Please tweet to us or call on 100 in any emergency/need of help."
Mumbai Police: City is expecting intermittent heavy showers all through the night. We request commuters to not venture in water logged areasalso request you all to maintain distance from the sea. Please tweet to us or call on 100 in any emergency/need of help. #MumbaiRains pic.twitter.com/kwoZdi333h
— ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2019
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) earlier on Friday sounded issued an "orange alert" for Maharashtra's Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. An orange alert is a warning for the authorities to be prepared to take necessary action. IMD has also predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai in the next 24 hours.
"We have issued an orange-alert for Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts. An orange-alert is merely a warning for authorities to get prepared...a red-alert directs them to take action as the situation might turn severe," an IMD official said. "Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts...extremely heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Palghar district," the official added.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) tweeted, "According to IMD forecast heavy rainfall with severe thunderstorm, accompanied with lightening, expected all through the night. We request citizens to avoid venturing around the sea and avoid parking vehicles under a tree. Call 1916 for in any emergency (sic)."
According to IMD forecast heavy rainfall with severe thunderstorm, accompanied with lightening, expected all through the night. We request citizens to avoid venturing around the sea and avoid parking vehicles under a tree. Call 1916 for in any emergency #MumbaiRainsLiveUpdates
— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) July 26, 2019
