Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Mumbai received 177 millimetres (mm) of rain in a 6-8 hour period on Monday and asked citizens to observe all precautions since more is expected through the day along with high tides, reported the PTI.
Talking to reporters in Mumbai after reviewing the rain and flood situation across Maharashtra, CM Fadnavis said that waterlogging is being witnessed in 14 places in the metropolis.
CM has appealed to residents to exercise caution and avoid stepping out unnecessarily.
In light of the worsening weather, government offices were instructed to allow employees to leave by 4 pm, ahead of expected high tides between 6:30 pm and 7 pm, likely to reach 3 to 4 metres. A decision regarding school closures on Tuesday will be made depending on conditions, the CM added, according to the PTI.
CM Fadnavis also noted that agricultural damage had been reported across 4 lakh hectares in Maharashtra, and district collectors have been given the authority to manage rescue and relief operations. Discussions are ongoing with Karnataka regarding the discharge of water from the Almatti Dam, which could impact downstream areas.
Meanwhile, Mumbai suburban district guardian minister Ashish Shelar said he had reviewed the situation through the BMC disaster management cell. He confirmed local train services were operating with some disruptions, and extra BEST buses had been deployed to assist stranded passengers at key railway stations like Dadar and Mumbai Central, as per the PTI.
Ashish Shelar also reported that 30 to 40 incidents of fallen trees or branches had been recorded across the city. Municipal teams have been ordered to remove debris and restore traffic at the earliest. One person was injured on Napean Sea Road after a protective wall collapsed onto a tree.
He reiterated that schools running afternoon sessions and colleges had been given a holiday, and both the BMC Commissioner and the Mumbai Police Commissioner have urged residents to venture out only when absolutely necessary.
Pumping stations are operating at full capacity to manage the water levels, and officials are closely monitoring water recession with the help of these systems.
(with PTI inputs)
