Weather department warns of heavy rainfall in the next few hours, Chief MInister Uddhav Thackeray asks people to stay indoors.
Mumbai, August 6:
South Mumbai’s Colaba area, which starts at the Gateway of India, reported its heaviest single-day rainfall in August in 46 years on Wednesday, when rains and cyclonic winds reaching speeds of up to 107kmph hit the city and its neighbouring areas, disrupting suburban train and bus services and throwing normal life out of gear.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray asked people to stay indoors and venture out only for essential work as the weather department warned that heavy rains and strong winds are likely to lash the city again over the next three hours.
However, the situation on ground seems to have improved with local and suburban trains running on schedule.
“Mumbai city and suburbs are very likely to receive few spells of moderate to heavy rainfall (1-2 cm/hour) during next 3-4 hours accompanied with strongwinds reaching 60-70 kmph occasionally gusting to 80 kmph. During next 3-4 hrs . Possibility of thunder/lightning in some areas,” the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) tweeted.
Mumbai has already recorded 64 per cent of its monthly quota of rain in the first five days of August, with posh south Mumbai areas bearing the bulk of the brunt.
For the past two days, heavy rains and cyclonic winds, reaching speeds of up to 107kmph, have hit Mumbai and neighbouring areas, disrupting suburban train and bus services and throwing normal life out of gear.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday assured all possible support to the Maharashtra Chief Minister regarding the situation prevailing in Mumbai and surrounding areas due to heavy rainfall.
The weather department has added that there would be gradual decrease in rainfall over the next 24 hours.
Earlier, besides Mumbai, the IMD had predicted heavy downpour over the Konkan region and Goa as well.
