Over 141 tree falls reported in Mumbai as city battles heavy rains and flooding

Weather bureau forecasts more flooding with gusty winds

@the_news_21

Mumbai: Over 141 trees fell in various parts of Mumbai due to heavy incessant rains that lashed the city on August 5. The heavy rains and strong gale force winds battering the metropolis since Monday has inundated several parts of the city. 

This included about 112 that fell in the island city, 16 in the eastern suburbs and 13 in the western suburban parts of the city. A tree fell over the police security cabin and gate of the state secretariat, Mantralaya. Over six complaints of short circuits were also received in the city. Two persons received minor injuries in a wall collapse at a ground-plus-one structure house at Bhandup on Wednesday morning around 10.47 am. 

The injured, Kanti Agarwal, 66 and Ajay Agarwal, 48 were discharged after basic treatment in a local Bhandup hospital. The city registered six instances of minor wall collapses due to the heavy downpour. About 33 buses of BEST broke down due to heavy rains and buses on six routes were diverted due to flooding. The rail services were also affected and schools around the railway stations were opened to accommodate the stranded passengers.  

The heavy winds broke the signage of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the fire brigade was called to ensure that it wouldn’t fall on ground or hurt someone. A section of window grills from Jaslok Hospital also collapsed on the front section. Heavy cranes at the JNPT also collapsed due to the gusty winds. Five of the total 15 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deputed for Maharashtra, were sent for Mumbai alone after the weather bureau forecast chances of floods in Mumbai city and suburbs.

The Colaba weather bureau recorded 229.6 mm of rainfall, while the Santacruz observatory recorded 65.8 mm of rainfall from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm on Wednesday The Regional Meteorological Center at Mumbai had forecast intense to very intense rainfall coupled with strong gusty winds over 80 km per hour to hit the city in the late hours of Wednesday. 

Heavy flooding was noticed at the regular flooded spots like Hindmata, Dadar (TT), JJ Hospital Junction, Bhendi Bazaar, Andheri and Dahisar subway. This was like a double whammy for the city that saw 42 die of Covid and 1125 test positive for Covid-19 as on August 5. The BMC is also simultaneously battling the Covid pandemic in the city and 5609 buildings continue to be sealed along with 621 containment zones in slums/ chawls in the country’s financial capital.  

The chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, police commissioner Param Bir SIngh and others tweeted appeals to Mumbaikars to not to venture out of homes unless extremely essential and stay out of coasts and water logged areas. Mumbairains# trended at the top spot through Wednesday with many posting videos of trees falling on streets and cars moving on flooded Mumbai roads reminding them of Gondolas wading on the canals of Venice.