Heavy rains lash Mumbai, high tide warnings issued

Mumbai: Heavy rains lashed the country’s economic capital on Thursday as the city prepares itself to face its highest tide in the last 100 years.

According to reports, heavy downpour led to water logging in several parts of the city and its suburbs.

However, the transport system remained largely unaffected by the downpour.

According to the Meteorological department, the city received 40 mm of rainfall till 0830 hours today.

The weather bureau has predicted spells of rains with possibility of heavy downpour in the next 24 hours.

Warnings of High tide

The civic body, Brihan Mumbai Corporation (BMC), has warned that the city could see one of the highest tide on July 23/24, which might touch 5.05 metres. This will force the BMC to keep the sluice gates shut increasing the chance of waterlogging.

The municipal agency has also decided to keep the schools closed on these days to prevent panic. It has also issued warnings through newspapers in the general interest of the city dwellers asking them to remain away from beaches and avoid roaming on the streets unnecessarily.

Besides, the civic body has also issued helpline numbers for those seeking any help or any information about the tide predictions.

The civic body has also put in place a comprehensive disaster management plan to meet the flood situation.

The civic body also intends to take help of the Indian Navy for the relief and rescue operation should there be any flood like situation due to heavydown pour and high tide.

Besides Mumbai, extensive plans have been chalked out for the neighbouring Thane and Raigad districts – which too falls in the Konkan coastal belt and the suburban train networks extends there.

BMC's Disaster management officials have met frequently and discussed the measures to be taken up during the monsoons. The meeting also included officials from other departments to ensure proper coordination.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has himself held a series of meetings with different agencies like BMC, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Mumbai Police, Central Railway, Western Railway, Konkan Railway, India Meteorological Department besides Army, Navy and Air Force to supervise the arrangements that would be in place during the monsoon.