After a day of incessant rains and gusty winds, Mumbai region slowly limped back to normal on Wednesday. But the havoc wreaked by the rains led to the death of five persons. Most of the offices in the region remained closed.
The suburban trains, which are the lifeline of Mumbai, resumed their services in the morning but they had to be suspended again because of flooding on the tracks. Some arterial roads also remained out of bounds for motorists because of flood waters.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said five of its teams are on standby in Mumbai. Five more contingents of NDRF are en route to Mumbai as a precautionary measure.
The Santacruz weather observatory of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) registered 331.4 mm rainfall on Tuesday, the heaviest since July 26, 2005 when 944 mm was recorded. It is also the highest rainfall in a day in August since 1997.
The Colaba observatory of the IMD registered 110 mm rainfall yesterday. The forecast till 8.30 am on Thursday is that rainfall is likely at most places in the Konkan region, Goa, many places over Madhya Maharashtra and a few places over Marathwada.
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai acted fast to clear roads which have become slippery and strewn with garbage. Along with a number of voluntary organisations, the Indian Navy also opened community kitchens and food counters at various locations in Mumbai to provide relief to rain-affected people.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting Mantralaya War Room to review the situation. He had pleaded to the people to stay home unless there is an emergency.
With inputs from Agencies