30 Hours And Counting: Rain-Drenched Mumbai Braces up for More!

Mumbai and its surroundings plagued by heavy traffic jams on Wednesday. However, train delays were not reported.

Heavy rains continued to lash large parts of Maharashtra. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/swapnilcsgmt)

Heavy rains continued to lash large parts of Maharashtra on Thursday with many areas recording three-digit (in millimetres) rainfall.

With over 30 hours of steady rain, Mumbai and surrounding areas were plagued by heavy traffic jams on the Eastern Express Highway and Western Express Highway, the east-west links, suburban and arterial road on Wednesday. However, no delays in the railways were reported.

Mumbai and surrounding areas were plagued by heavy traffic jams. (Photo Courtesy: Google Maps Screengrab)

While Mumbai rains are known to peter-out after Ganpati, weather forecasts revealed that more rains are expected over the next three-four days across most parts of the states.

Several local schools and college remained shut in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar on Wednesday due to water-logging as the district authorities remained in a state of high alert for any natural disaster.

Mumbai Locals, Infrastructure Never Get Used to the Rains

It seems Mumbaikars can never get used to the rains. People took to Twitter expressing their frustration over the continuing rains, even asking locals to “keep these roads in mind when the Shiv Sena and the BJP come begging for votes for the next BMC elections”.

Nonetheless, Mumbaikars Rejoice as Lakes Fill Up

As opposed to last year’s deficit rain resulting in sharp water cuts, 17 million Mumbaikars are relieved that all the lakes supplying drinking water to the metropolis are full.

Average rainfall of 180 mm was recorded by the Indian Meteorological Department in Mumbai, while the suburbs accounted for 142.6 mm of rain till 9 pm on Wednesday.

Heavy rains are expected in the next three-four days. (Photo: Ashish Dikshit)

The monsoon revival is attributed to the formation of a new weather system in west-central Bay of Bengal, which is presently prevalent over northwest Bay of Bengal, coastal areas of south Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh.

Heavy rains are expected in the next three-four days and fishermen have been warned against venturing out into the Arabian Sea due to strong winds.

(With inputs from IANS.)