Mumbai
Monsoon fury wreaked havoc on Tuesday, claiming the lives of at least 32 people in wall collapses in this financial capital, Thane and Pune, and over 75 injured or missing, the Maharashtra government said.
Schools and offices shut down while road, rail and air traffic ground to a standstill, officials said.
As a precaution, the state government declared a public holiday for the megapolis. It was later extended to the Konkan region.
Central Railways curtailed operations. According to officials, 18 people were killed when the compound wall of hutments built on hill slope in Pimpripada in Malad suburb, collapsed on adjoining shanties around 0100 hrs.
National Disaster Response Force, Mumbai Fire Brigade and other agencies were digging out many more feared trapped in the rubble.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the state Assembly that at least 75 were injured in the monsoon havoc. Mr Fadnavis appealed to people not to step out unless absolutely necessary in view of the continued downpour.
‘In the past 12 hours, the city has received an unprecedented 300 to 400 mm rains, the highest in the past decade. The existing drainage systems are unable to cope with such a heavy downpour, coupled with a high tide this afternoon,’ the CM told media persons.
Condoling the deaths, Mr Fadnavis announced Rs 5 lakh solatium to the next of kin of each deceased.
Two persons, who were trapped inside an SUV in the flooded Malad subway since last night, were found dead today.
In adjoining Thane district, three persons were killed when the boundary wall of National Urdu School crashed in Kalyan town and several more were injured, and two persons were washed away in flood waters in an overflowing river in Jawahar.
Navy’s team of divers from INS Tanaji deployed rubber boats, life-jackets, life buoys and rescued over a 1,000 people stranded in Krantinagar slums in Kurla, north-east Mumbai.
In several parts of Mumbai and suburbs, as well as towns in Raigad, Thane and Palghar districts, people struggled to safety in waist-deep waters, vehicles submerged, several tempos, trucks and heavy stranded on roads adding to traffic snarls.
At least 150 BrihanMumbai Electric Supply and Transport buses were also submerged and stranded at various locations in the city since this morning.
The IMD forecast extremely heavy to very heavy rains in parts of coastal Konkan.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Pravin Pardeshi ordered closure of all schools and colleges for the day.
As the rains let up around noon, thousands of harried people rushed out of their homes to buy stocks of vegetables, fruits, groceries, milk in local markets which were charging higher rates .
Long-distance trains from different parts of India, expected to reach Mumbai, have also been stranded at various locations en route.