Rain has fallen continuously in Mumbai for the past 48 hours. Santacruz saw 145 mm of rainfall on the last day starting at 8:30 am on Wednesday, while Colaba experienced 223 mm of rain.
Table of Contents
The Wettest July
Mumbai was battered by heavy rains on Wednesday. Mumbai residents also don’t expect the rain to stop in the upcoming days. Mumbai experienced its wettest July on Wednesday.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the month has so far seen a record 1,557.8 mm of precipitation. When the Santacruz observatory of the IMD—which represents the Mumbai suburbs—recorded 1,502 mm of precipitation in July 2020, it was the wettest month on record.
Between July 1 and July 26, 2024, at 8:30 am, the Santa Cruz (monitor) recorded 1,433 millimeters. As a result, the Santa Cruz observatory had recorded a total of 1557.8 mm as of 2030 (8.30 pm) on July 26, 2024, shattering the previous record for the wettest July, the IMD reported.
Mumbai-Red Alert IssuedÂ
Due to the persistent rain that lashed parts of Mumbai and its suburbs on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) raised the “orange” signal to “red” for the nation’s financial capital from Wednesday night till Thursday afternoon.
Schools and Colleges Closed
The BMC’s administrator and municipal commissioner, Iqbal Singh Chahal, made a statement on the matter on Wednesday night. In light of the Mumbai red alert, and considering student safety is of the utmost importance, on Thursday, the BMC declared a vacation for all municipal, government-run, and private elementary, middle, and high schools as well as all other organizations in the city and suburbs.
Additionally, the University of Mumbai has cancelled every exam scheduled for Thursday in the city. The institution stated that the revised date would be made public later.
The Inconveniences Caused by the Rain
Rail operations in Mumbai and the neighbouring areas were also hampered last week by heavy rain. Suburban traffic was temporarily stopped from Wadala to the Mankhurd portion of the Harbour Line due to waterlogging at the Kurla station.
Maharashtra has experienced various regions with flood-like conditions as a result of the state’s regular rains. According to the official, settlements close to coastal areas have received warnings due to the high tide.
All local train services are operating normally, although the city’s roads have been affected by heavy rains, according to recent reports from the Western and Central Railways.
Andheri Metro (underpass between Andheri and Jogeshwari railway stations) has been blocked several times during the rains due to water stagnation since Wednesday morning.
Death and Damages Caused by the Rain
Late on Wednesday, a 19-year-old man died in a body of flooded water close to the foothills of the SGNP. The rescue teams were informed, and on Thursday morning they were able to recover the body.
The recent rainfall’s intensity has also wreaked havoc in a number of metropolitan areas. The seven-story-tall Ram Baugh cooperative housing society in Andheri East reported a landslide earlier this week as dirt and stones from the mountainous terrain behind the building fell on it, according to weather.com.
Additionally, a lab gallery collapsed at the Meghwadi district of Mumbai’s People’s Welfare English High School. Fortunately, no one suffered injuries during the incident.
Rise in Monsoon Disease
The BMC’s public health department has issued a warning about the surge in monsoon diseases as Mumbai hospitals have seen an increase in outpatients during the torrential rains. Malaria, dengue fever, gastroenteritis, and leptospirosis cases have increased this month over the entire city.
Nearly 1,000 verified instances of gastroenteritis have been reported in the first two weeks of July, according to weather.com, however, the true number may be far higher. About 350 cases of malaria and 104 cases of leptospirosis were recorded during the same period. Numerous cases of H1N1 and chikungunya disease have also been recorded.
BMC Issues Prevention Measures As The City Experiences Heavy Rain
The BMC has issued a warning for regular people as the city has endured heavy rain for the past few days. The civic group has recommended the following safety measures for citizens to observe today:
- If at all possible, stay indoors during severe downpours.
- Keep a ready list of emergency numbers.
- Avoid regions that are flooded.
- To avoid water damage, park cars in dry areas.
