Life has become disrupted due to torrential rains in Mumbai. There is a waterlogged situation in the city and one person has died. BMC has announced closure of schools and colleges on Monday and has appealed to people to stay in their homes.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [भारत]July 5 (ANI): Heavy monsoon rains continued to lash Mumbai and several other parts of the country on Sunday, causing waterlogging, claiming lives and prompting authorities to intensify safety measures, including the closure of all schools and colleges in the financial capital on Monday.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mumbai received over 265 mm of rainfall and the suburbs received over 227 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours (till 6 pm on Sunday). Severe waterlogging was reported in Navi Mumbai’s Chirner village, where locals claimed to have killed at least 12 snakes on Saturday. Speaking to ANI, a resident said, “…No one has come to take care of us yet. We have been in this water for two days… Yesterday alone we killed at least 10 to 12 snakes…”
One dead due to falling of tree in Kurla
In Mumbai, a 63-year-old man died after a tree fell on a shop in Kurla amid strong winds and heavy rain, marking yet another rain-related death in the city. The deceased, identified as Yunus Kundawala (63), was taken to Fauzia Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. According to civic officials, the incident occurred around 12:40 pm near Hindi BMC School in Gomes Gown Building, Kamani in Kurla (West), where a tree fell on a shop. Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), police, BEST personnel and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) staff were sent to the spot for rescue and evacuation operations.
Mayor announced compensation, ordered investigation
Reacting to the incident, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the victim’s family and said an investigation would be conducted to find out why the tree was not identified as a potential threat. “We will not support the municipal administration in any wrongdoing. An inquiry will be conducted to determine why it was ignored. For now, we have announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the family, and as mayor, I – along with the entire BMC – stand in solidarity with them,” Tawde said.
Appeal to citizens to be careful
Calling for preventive measures, the Mayor said the BMC has ordered an audit of trees across the city, especially old trees and trees located along cement concrete roads, besides manholes will also be audited to ensure that covers and safety grills are in place. He said, “Audit of trees is really necessary. As mayor, I held a review meeting to audit all the trees in the BMC area, including those along CC roads and old trees of 50-60 years or more in the city. We have also ordered an audit of all manholes so that covers and safety grills can be checked.”
Appealing to citizens to remain cautious, Tawde cited heavy rains, strong winds and high tide conditions and urged people to avoid unnecessary travel. “My appeal to Mumbaikars is: go out only when there is essential work. People go to the beach for recreation. I saw children sitting on the sea walls. It is extremely dangerous. With high tide, it is unsafe to go there. Do not go out without reason unless necessary,” he said.
Mayor’s response to opposition’s criticism
Responding to the opposition’s criticism over the city’s preparedness, the Mayor said the civic administration is actively monitoring the situation at the ground level. Tawde said, “The people of Mumbai have not seen any mayor roaming around like this in the last 25 years. We work for the people, that is why they elect us. Those who are sitting in the opposition today have failed to work. They should come to the field instead of commenting from their homes.”
Schools and colleges closed in Mumbai on Monday
In the wake of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert for Mumbai on Monday, predicting heavy rains along with gusty winds, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has declared a holiday on July 6 for all government, private and BMC-run schools and colleges in the city. The civic body said the decision was taken keeping in mind the safety of the students. However, government and private offices will function normally. BMC has also appealed to the citizens to go out only when it is absolutely necessary.
This latest death comes two days after another rain-related death in Mumbai, where 55-year-old Aslam Isak Shaikh fell into an open manhole in Sakinaka area of Andheri East during heavy rains. Police later registered a case against a contractor and workers engaged in drainage repair work in connection with the incident.
Monsoon wreaks havoc in other parts of the country too
Heavy rains also affected neighboring Palghar district, where Nalasopara area remained submerged after incessant rains. Commuters were seen wading through submerged roads, causing severe disruption to daily commute.
waterlogging in jharkhand
The impact of monsoon was felt in other parts of the country also. In Jharkhand, waterlogging was seen in many parts of Ranchi following incessant rains. Ranchi Mayor Roshni Khalkho said that despite the shortage of funds, the Municipal Corporation is making every possible effort to improve cleanliness and monsoon preparedness. He said the civic body has increased deployment of JCB machines, expanded field staff, intensified drain-cleaning works and deployed modern machinery. However, he said that the damaged drains need repair and reconstruction, with inadequate funds being a major challenge. Ranchi mayor told ANI, “Despite the paucity of funds, the municipal corporation is trying its best with regard to cleanliness and preparations for the upcoming monsoon; for example, we have increased the number of JCBs deployed. You can see that big drains are being cleaned, and small drains are being cleaned day and night… We have also increased our field staff and deployed modern machinery… The point is that cleanliness alone is not enough… Our three so far During the month’s tenure, we have faced shortage of funds; as a result, many drains are broken or damaged and need to be repaired or rebuilt to ensure proper water flow. The shortage of funds is creating difficulties for us.”
Traffic affected in Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh, heavy rains caused severe waterlogging on the Delhi-Lucknow road in Hapur, affecting traffic and causing inconvenience to commuters.
Successful rescue of 14 laborers in Chhattisgarh
Meanwhile, in Chhattisgarh, 14 laborers stranded due to rising flood waters in Gariaband district were rescued safely in a joint operation by Gariaband Police and Mahasamund Home Guards. DSP Nitish Singh said the workers were living in a temporary shed under an under-construction bridge on the Bagnai river near Bijapal village when the water level rose rapidly due to incessant rains in the last 24 hours, trapping them.
“Bijapal village is located on the border of Gariaband and Mahasamund districts, which falls under the jurisdiction of Chura police station. There was bridge construction work going on across the Bagnai river, and 14 laborers were living in a temporary shed below the bridge. Due to incessant rains in Gariaband district in the last 24 hours, the water level suddenly rose, trapping all 14 laborers,” the officer said.
He further said, “Upon receiving this information, a joint rescue operation was successfully carried out by the Gariaband police team and the Mahasamund Home Guard team. If they were not rescued in time, their lives could have been in danger; we have averted a critical situation. It is raining continuously. Gariaband district is surrounded by forests, small streams, rivers and hills; as a result, the water level is rising due to the rains. The Gariaband police team is on alert at the spot and keeping a close watch Keeping it.” (ANI)
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