Amid heavy rains and IMD red alert in Mumbai, water logging, Vasai-Virar floods, falling of trees at Ghatkopar and local train delays have created an atmosphere of mystery and crisis in the city.
Mumbai: Creepy black clouds floating in the sky, sky-scraping waves rising in the sea and white sheets of fog swallowing tall buildings – this is not a scene from a horror movie, but the current scene of the country’s financial capital Mumbai. Since Sunday morning, nature’s guard has tightened over Mayanagari. In view of the seriousness of the situation, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has maintained a ‘red alert’ for Mumbai and its surrounding areas. The administration is on high alert after torrential rain on Saturday, because this peace could be the silence before a big storm.
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Fog swallows tall buildings: Crisis looms over South Mumbai
The skyscrapers of South Mumbai, which were once the pride of the city, are today more than half hidden under a blanket of mysterious fog. The high waves rising in the Arabian Sea and the disturbance in the coastal areas are indicating some untoward incident. However, it is a matter of relief that at present the rain has stopped in South Mumbai, Western Suburbs and Eastern Suburbs, but meteorologists have a suspenseful claim that this relief is for a very short period. Officials have warned that by afternoon, the anger of the clouds may burst once again and the intensity of rain may increase to a very dangerous level.
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Water did not recede even after 9 hours: Outcry in Vasai-Virar and Nalasopara
The most dreadful form of the catastrophic rain on Saturday is being seen in the satellite cities of Mumbai – Nalasopara and Vasai-Virar. Although the pace of rain may have slowed down a bit since Saturday evening, the intermittent showers are rubbing salt on the wounds. The situation can be gauged from the fact that many residential societies and main roads have completely turned into islands. Even after more than nine hours have passed, flood water has not receded from many areas. This stagnation of water has not only brought life to a standstill, but has also forced the administration to impose massive power cuts in these areas in view of security, forcing thousands of families to live in dense darkness and fear.
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War on Nalasopara track: Will Mumbai’s lifeline stop?
This disaster has also had a direct impact on the local trains, which are called the lifeline of Mumbai. The railway tracks at Nalasopara station of the Western Railway line were completely submerged. However, after hard work of the railway employees, water has been removed from the tracks and local train services have been restored. But there is still tension in the railway corridors; Trains are running about five minutes behind schedule. The red alert implemented for Palghar and Vasai-Virar has drawn lines of worry on the forehead of the railway officials, because if there is heavy rain again, this lifeline can completely collapse.
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That dreadful explosion at midnight: A giant tree fell on vehicles in Ghatkopar.
While the entire city was sleeping, a heart-wrenching incident came to light from Ghatkopar in the eastern suburbs. Breaking the silence of midnight, a huge tree suddenly fell with a thud near Vikrant Circle. Five vehicles parked there were hit by the tree, which were completely damaged. It was fortunate that no one was present in or around the vehicles at that time, due to which a major loss of life was averted. Immediately after the incident, teams of fire brigade and local police reached the spot with cranes and cleared the way by removing the debris.
Next 24 hours are extremely critical: Administration’s appeal, ‘Stay at home’
According to IMD, the next 24 hours are no less than a litmus test for Palghar, Mumbai and Thane. Very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall ($>200\text{ mm}$) is forecast. Municipal Corporation and disaster management teams are keeping a close watch on the low-lying areas. Due to water logging, urban transport corridors have become a serious threat. The administration has given strict instructions to the citizens to come out of their homes only when there is urgent work. The raging waves of the sea and the dark shadow of the sky clearly indicate that today’s afternoon is going to be very challenging for Mumbai.