As heavy rains continued to lash Mumbai, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a 'red alert' for the Konkan region, including Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Palghar districts and adjoining ghat areas of central Maharashtra, warning of extremely heavy rainfall till Wednesday.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis noted that the the next 48 hours will be extremely crucial for districts that are under IMD's red alert. The CM, who reviewed the flood situation with the disaster management department, said the next 48 hours would be crucial for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.
"Due to heavy rainfall in the state, there has been loss of life and property at some places. SDRF and NDRF personnel are deployed at certain locations. Mumbai has received around 300mm of rainfall due to which there have been a few disruptions. The water level in the Mithi River is going down gradually. Red alert is valid for Konkan and Ghat areas for the next few hours," the CM said.
Mumbai received a record rainfall of nearly 300 mm, as the second straight day of downpour on Tuesday severely disrupted the road, rail traffic and crippled normal life.
Lifeline cut
Commuters faced severe hardship as local train services of the Central Railway were disrupted on its main and harbour lines due to submergence of tracks due to torrential rains, while flight operations, too, were affected.
No trains were running between Thane-CSMT, and Mankhurd-CSMT as the tracks were covered in water due to the Mithi river overflowing.
Tracks on both the Central and Western Railway routes were inundated at several locations, including Parel, Curry Road, Byculla, Dadar, Matunga Road, Mahim and other locations.
"Mumbai has witnessed a record rainfall of nearly 300 mm. The city's lifeline —suburban trains—have slowed down. The Mithi river (which runs through Mumbai) reached the danger-level mark and 400 to 500 persons had to be evacuated," Fadnavis told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, sources said six flights of IndiGo and one each of SpiceJet and Air India were diverted to nearby airports, including Surat, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
—with PTI inputs