Heavy rain lashes Mumbai, suburbs; several areas waterlogged

MUMBAI: Heavy rain continued to lash Mumbai and adjoining suburbs on Friday, leading to waterlogging in several areas.
In the 24 hours ending at 8.30am, the IMD Colaba observatory recorded 57.7mm rainfall and IMD Santacruz reported 11.4mm rain.

The weather bureau’s impact based forecast for Mumbai said that the island city and suburbs have very intense convective clouds which have potential to cause intense spells of rains during next three hours starting from 9.30am.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had already issued an orange alert for the city for Friday and Saturday forecasting heavy to very heavy rain likely at isolated places.

Several low lying areas in Mumbai namely Hindmata at Dadar, parts of Sion and King Circle reported waterlogging owing to the heavy downpours. KS Hosalikar, deputy director-general (western region), IMD said, "Radar and satellite images are indicating active monsoon over west coast, including Mumbai. Heavy rain warnings for Mumbai, West coast in coming 24-48 hours".

Waterlogging has been reported in WorliNaka, ChiraBazar, Byculla police station area, Hindmata junction at Dadar and Bhulabhai Desai Road (Warden Road).
The island city in the three hours from 8.30am-11.30am has reported 156mm rainfall, which falls in the very heavy rain category as per IMD classification. Parts of the suburbs, meanwhile, have reported 61mm rainfall in the same period, which falls in the moderate rain category. However, rain in the suburbs have picked up now with heavy downpour being reported from areas like Borivali, Dahisar, Mulund.
BEST which is operating a fleet of over 3,000 buses, has diverted some of them at Gol Deul, Sion Road No. 24, Gandhi Market up and down direction, Hindmata up and down direction due to waterlogging, said spokesperson Manoj Varade.
Weathermen said a cyclonic circulation lies over south Gujarat and neighbourhood and a circulation is also very likely to meander over the same region till July 4. Also, an off shore trough runs from north Maharashtra coast to Karnataka coast. Under the influence of these systems west coast along and interior Maharashtra is experiencing an active monsoon spell.