IMD issues red alert for Mumbai, disaster management on alert

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar, Raigad for Sunday (July 28). The IMD on Saturday (July 27) evening also predicted “heavy to very heavy” rains in Mumbai, including “extremely heavy” rain in isolated places, for Sunday.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said it was prepared for the monsoon onslaught and asked citizens to be careful.

“BMC has alerted its citizens about the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall tomorrow accompanied by lightning during the day. The civic machinery, including the Disaster Management Cell, has been put on alert,” a civic body spokesperson said. He said, wherever required, ward officials have been asked to visit areas in their jurisdiction to monitor the situation on the ground. “We appeal to citizens to be careful and avoid venturing into the sea, and not to open manholes,” he added.

Mumbai-Goa highway shut

Meanwhile, the busy Mumbai-Goa highway had to be shut on Saturday after continuous rains in the region since Friday (July 26) triggered a flood-like situation. Water level in several rivers rose on Saturday. Police said the traffic on Mumbai-Goa highway had to be shut after flood in Jagbudi river in coastal Ratnagiri district following heavy rains.

In a statement in the evening, Central Railway informed that over 1,000 passengers rescued from the Mumbai- Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express earlier on Saturday afternoon made their onward journey in a special train that left from Kalyan at 6:10 pm. The train will go via Manmad, Pune and Daund to Kolhapur, CR chief public relations officer Sunil Udasi said. The Mahalaxmi Express marooned near Vangani in neighbouring Thane district after heavy rains caused the Ulhas river to breach its banks.