Mumbai was on July 2 paralysed by incessant rain, which left many parts of the financial capital waterlogged and 21 dead in a wall collapse in the city.
Fourteen persons died in rest of Maharashtra in rain-related incidents in the last 24 hours, officials said.
Heavy rains lashing Mumbai since June 30 threw rail, air and road traffic out of gear, with several trains and flights cancelled.
With IMD forecast of heavy rains for July 2, the authorities declared a holiday in the city and adjoining regions, asking people to avoid stepping out of their houses.
On Monday , Mumbai received heavy rainfall causing train delays and even the cancellation of the busy Mumbai-Pune intercity trains, and traffic snarls on a working day. A derailment on the ghat section between Karjat and Lonavala led to the cancellation of the Mumbai-Pune trains.
(Updates from Mumbai Bureau and Agencies)
Live updates below:
Rainfall to get intense; next two days very critical: BMC Additional Commissioner Ashwini Joshi
On the IMD’s forecast, BMC Additional Commissioner Ashwini Joshi said the intensity of the rainfall is likely to get intense during the next 24 hours in Mumbai and suburbs.
During the last 24 hours, from 8.30 am on July 1 to 8.30 am July 2, BMC’s weather stations recorded an average rainfall of 163 mm in the island city, 329 mm in the eastern suburbs and 309 mm in western suburbs, she said.
The disaster management cell of BMC received over 3,593 complaints, including those about water logging, wall collapse and tree branch falling on the Helpline No 1916.
“The next two days are going to be very critical to us and our machinary is geared to face any eventuality during excessive rains,” Ms. Joshi said.
All the 1,400 de-watering pumps of BMC are deployed at 53 flood-prone spots, including 22 chronic spots and assistant municipal commissioners have been asked to supervise their territory, she said.
Ms. Joshi blamed “geographic phenomena” for water-logging in the city and said the BMC’s monsoon preparedness was up to the mark.
“Heavy rains in a short period of time coupled with high tide in the city resulted in water-logging in several areas,” IAS officer said. — PTI
Two drown as car gets stuck in flooded subway in suburban Malad
Two persons travelling in a car drowned after their vehicle got stuck in a flooded subway in suburban Malad amid heavy downpour, police said Tuesday.
The incident took place Monday night at around 11.30 p.m. when the two were returning to their homes in Malad (East), a senior police official said.
The deceased were identified as Irfan Khan (38) and Gulshad Shaikh (40).
Due to heavy showers, their car got stuck in the subway and they could not come out. People later pulled the car out of the water and found the duo in an unconscious state, the official said.
The car occupants were admitted to a nearby hospital, where they died during treatment, he said.
A case of accidental death has been registered, he added. — PTI
Mumbai airport main runway likely to be operational by July 4
In more woes for airlines, the main runway of the Mumbai airport is likely to remain closed for flight operations till July 4 as it will take more time to remove the SpiceJet plane that was stuck partially on the runway on Monday, according to officials.
Heavy rains in the city have already disrupted operations at the airport, with at least 52 flights being cancelled and 55 flights being diverted on July 2.
A SpiceJet flight from Jaipur carrying 167 passengers and crew overshot the runway after landing amid heavy rains. The aircraft is stuck partially on the runway and the nearby grass area.
A team of engineers and technicians from Air India has started work to remove the stuck plane with the Disabled Aircraft Recovery Kit (DARK). The kit, used to remove stuck aircraft, is only available with the national carrier, an Air India spokesperson said.
"A 150 metre-long ramp is being prepared to enable push the aircraft out of the grassy area. Air India's disable aircraft removal kit has been mobilised," an official of the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) said.
MIAL is the airport operator.
The officials said the aircraft is likely to removed by July 4 and then the runway would be fully operational.
"Currently, secondary runway is in use. Our team is trying their best to bring the main runway back into operation and this may take up to 48 hours," MIAL said in a tweet. — PTI
15-year-old dies after being trapped under debris for hours
Efforts by rescue workers in the congested Pimpripada area of north Mumbai to get a 15-year- old girl out of the debris of a wall which collapsed, proved futile as she was brought out dead.
Sanchita Ganore was brought out of the debris in the afternoon, almost 12 hours after she was trapped beneath it. A doctor on the spot said the medical team tried their best but couldn’t save her.
“Her legs were stuck in the debris, so it took long to rescue her. We tried our best to bring her up alive but could not,” he said.
A rescue worker said Sanchita had been crying for help and asking for water.
“Shortly after the wall collapsed, we rescued a child from underneath the debris. This girl Sanchita had been crying for help since 2 am,” the worker, a local resident, said. The girl’s cry for help from under the debris set off a massive rescue effort. Sanchita’s faint voice could be heard calling out for water to drink.
Efforts were made to cut a small section of the wall and clear a path for the girl to escape.
People gathered at the site were seen discussing the ownership of the wall. While some claimed it belonged to the Forest department, others said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation was the owner, while some said auto major Mahindra & Mahindra had erected it.
'Malad wall collapse will be probed'
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced in the State Assembly that a high-level investigation into the wall collapse incident at Malad in North Mumbai will be launched. He also announced ₹5 lakh ex-gratia to the family members of victims. He has also requested the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to extend an additional financial aid of ₹5 lakh.
Here is a round-up of the situation in the city now
Local trains stranded on flooded tracks near Kurla on Tuesday, July 2, 2019
Schools and colleges remained closed and authorities declared a public holiday in the city and adjoining regions, asking people to avoid stepping out of their houses. “The rain is unprecedented,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who visited the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters in the morning to review the situation.
Highest rainfall since the 2005 deluge
The rainfall in the 24-hour period before 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday was the highest since the July 26, 2005 deluge in Mumbai, officials said.
The rainfall during the 24-hour period was 375.2 mm, the official said, quoting data from the Santa Cruz-based Mumbai Regional Centre of the IMD.
Barring the 2005 flooding of Mumbai, the highest rainfall in a single day in the metropolis was on July 5, 1974. The rainfall recorded by the Santa Cruz observatory on that day was also 375.2 mm.
Due to water coming near Sion Circle, buses from Parel bus depot have been diverted via Wadala. From Dadar bus stand, 13 services have been run to Pune, out of which 10 were Shivneri buses. Due to heavy flooding at Nalasopara and Arnala in Palghar district, no buses have left the depots of the respective towns since morning.
The process for retrieval of the SpiceJet aircraft that overshot the runway at Mumbai airport late on Monday night has started. A 150m long ramp is being prepared to push the aircraft out of the grassy area. The Air-India disable aircraft removal kit has been mobilised. Until the aircraft is pulled back, flight operations on the main runway will remain suspended.
Two people were rescued by the fire brigade from a stranded car at Malad subway, Sainath Road around midnight on Monday. In another incident last night, two people were stranded in a car at Andheri subway and were rescued by onlookers.
Maharashtra CM releases statement
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the BMC headquarters, and later released a statement:
"400 mm rain in 3 hours in Mumbai. This is three to four times of drainage capacity of Mumbai. We are monitoring all the unfortunate accidents in Mumbai. There are other incidents in kalyan, pune. Five people died in another Pune incident. Total of 3 incidents. Rains likely to continue for next 2-3 days. We will be monitoring. Direction to evacuate if necessary have been given," said the statement.
"Five pumping stations working. Water logging is in some parts of the state. Efforts are on to restart Central Railways. Tide at 12 pm and 5pm in Mumbai. Mumbai is getting one month's rainfall in 3-4 days. Authorities are working overnight. They are on high alert. Traffic management is on track. Only 3-4 spots have waterlogging where traffic is jammed," the statement said.
"Rs. 5 lakh coMpensation from state government to deceased. Have asked BMC to also give Rs. 5 lakh compensation to their families," the statement further added.
"Nullah cleaning did take place. Draining capacity of nullahs is 50mm/hour and now we are getting 400mm rains in 3 hours. We cannot say nullah cleaning did not take place. The rains are unprecedented," the statement added.
Heavy rains in Thane-Palghar: 5 dead, 3 rescued from car
Five persons died in rain-related incidents and three were rescued from a submerged car in Thane and adjoining Palghar.
In a wall collapse in an Urdu school near Durgai Fort in Kalyan in the district, three people, including a toddler, were killed.
“At around 1:30am, the protection wall of the school fell on hutments beside. The dead have been identified as Sogan Kamble (60), Karina Chand (32) and three-year-old Bhushan Chand. One person has been injured,” a Thane Disaster Management Cell official said.
In another incident which took place around the same time, a car with three occupants fell into the Chenna Creek between Thane and Bhayander.
Western Express Highway flooded after heavy rain near Bandra on July 2, 2019
Fire brigade personnel from Balkum rushed to the site and managed to rescue the persons from the submerged car, Thane Regional Disaster Management Cell chief Santosh Kadam said, adding that the car continued to remain stuck in the creek.
Around 50 people were shifted to higher ground in the city’s Bhaskar Colony area after water gushed into their homes in the early hours of the day, an official said.
Two people were swept away in the rains in Jawhar area and Dahanu, he said.
“Sixty-year-old Janu Umbarsada was swept away in a stream in Kundanparda area of Jawhar. Another person, Kailash Nagde (29) was washed away in a flash flood in the Baijapada area of Dahanu,” Palghar Disaster Management Cell chief Vivekananda Kadam said.
Since Sunday, heavy rains has caused Surya, Vaitarna and Pinjal rivers in the region to swell, leaving several residential clusters alongside in danger of getting submerged. - PTI
Long-distance passenger trains short-terminated
27 long-distance passenger trains coming to Mumbai have been short-terminated at various stations on Central Railway like Pune, Nashik, Igatpuri, Manmad, Panvel.
Trains short-terminated at Nashik
Nagpur-Mumbai Nandigram Express; Secunderabad-Mumbai Devgiri Express; Gondia-Mumbai Vidarbha Express; Nagpur-Mumbai Duranto Express
Trains short-terminated at Pune
Chennai-Dadar Chennai Express; Puducherri-Dadar Express; Hubballi-LTT Express; Kolhapur-Mumbai Mahalaxmi Express; Visakhapatnam-LTT Express; Gadag-Mumbai Express; Bhubaneshwar-Mumbai Konark Express
Trains short-terminated at Igatpuri
Tatanagar-LTT Antyodaya Express; Howrah-Mumbai Mail; Gorakhpur-LTT Express; Gorakhpur-LTT Kushinagar Express; Howrah-LTT Jnaneshwari Express; Asansol-Mumbai Express
Navy teams aid rescue efforts
Teams from the Indian Navy's INS Tanaji and Material Organisation jumped in to help with the rescue efforts in the rain-hit city, after the BMC requested assistance.
A statement from the Navy said, "Teams from INS Tanaji and Material Organisation were immediately activated and were later joined by naval diving teams. The team from INS Tanaji encountered extreme waterlogging and abandoned vehicles, preventing their own vehicles from reaching the site. The team moved on foot, carrying safety gear like lifebuoys and lifejackets and was able to help elderly women and children to safer areas."
Navy teams help with rescue efforts in rain-hit Mumbai on Tuesday, July 2, 2019.
"About 1000 people have been shifted to safety with the help of NDRF, fire brigade, Naval teams as well as local volunteers. The Indian Navy teams remain in full readiness to respond as and when required," the statement added.
Train services
Due to very heavy rainfall, Central Railway Suburban Services will run only in following sections till further notice:
CSMT-Bandra on harbour line;
Vashi-Panvel on harbour line;
Thane-Vashi-Panvel on transharbour line;
4th corridor to Kharkopar;
Thane-Kasara/Karjat/Khopoli on main line
Due to heavy rainfall in Nalasopara, suburban and long distance trains are affected on Western Railway. Services between Vasai Road and Virar are being run at 30 minute intervals.
Services are running normal between Churchgate and Vasai Road with delays. Five long distance trains have been short-terminated.
Trains cancelled: Mumbai-Gadag Express, Manmad-Mumbai-Manmad Panchvati Express, Pune-Mumbai-Pune Sinhagad Express, Pune-Mumbai-Pune Deccan Queen, Mumbai-Kolhapur Sahyadri Express, Ratnagiri-Dadar-Ratnagiri Passenger, Manmad-Mumbai-Manmad Rajyarani Express, Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai Intercity Express, Nanded-Mumbai-Nanded Tapovan Express, Manmad-LTT-Manmad Express.
54 flights diverted
The Mumbai airport, which was almost closed for over an hour last night, commenced operations on the secondary runway.
However, flight operations are still disrupted as the main runway is closed due to a Spicejet aircraft that is yet to be removed from the edge of the runway. The Boeing aircraft overshot the runway late on Monday night after its landing gear skidded.
Seen here on July 2, 2019 is the SpiceJet Jaipur-Mumbai plane that overshot the runway at Mumbai domestic airport on Monday. No one was injured in this incident; all the passengers were deplaned safely.
Fifty-four flights have been diverted to different airports, said airport officials.
Operations were halted on Monday night due to excessive flooding of the runway as the Mithi River, which passes underneath the airport began swelling.
Officials blame climate change
The Mumbai civic administration sought to disown responsibility for the lack of preparedness.
Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi said the 540 mm of rain was the highest over a two-day period in a decade, and blamed “climate change and changed geographical conditions” for water-logging at several places.
Only emergency services to remain functional
The Maharashtra government has said that only emergency services will remain functional in Mumbai due to the incessant rains that has affected the road traffic and railways in the city.
Authorities have also advised people to avoid stepping out of their homes as the Indian Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rains.
The heavy rainfall has submerged the roads and rail tracks. Based on further inputs from other agencies, we have taken the decision to keep emergency services operational. We have appealed to the people not to venture out in this situation, Brijesh Singh, the official spokesperson of the state government, said. - PTI
Public holiday declared
Authorities declare public holiday in Mumbai after IMD forecasts heavy rain. "People in Mumbai should avoid stepping out of their homes on Tuesday due to heavy rains," PTI reported a civic official as saying.
Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) tweeted that nearly 1000 people were evacuated from Kranti Nagar, Kurla, to prevent any untoward incidents due to an overflowing Mithi river.
The official twitter handle also said that water had been pumped out in several places in the city, including Netaji Palkar Chowk, Andheri, S V Road, Andheri Subway & Sakinaka.
12 dead in wall collapse in Malad
At least 12 persons dead and 13 injured after a wall collapsed in Malad area of Mumbai following overnight rains. NDRF teams are at the spot.
The incident happened around 2 am when the compound wall in Pimpripada of Malad East area collapsed and people living in shanties adjacent to wall got trapped under the debris.
"Pained to know about the loss of lives in Malad Wall Collapse incidence. My thoughts are with families who lost loved ones & prayers for speedy recovery of injured," said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "₹5 lakh will be given to the kin of deceased," he said.
(With inputs from Agencies)
