The rain in Mumbai wreaked havoc in just an hour, causing chaos with crawling trains, waterlogged streets, closed subways, and jammed highways. Some of the blame was put on incomplete concreting work, making the situation worse for the city and its suburbs.
Sources revealed that both the eastern and western express highways were severely impacted by the unseasonal rain. The incomplete concreting work exacerbated the problem, leaving one lane on each side of the highway unusable due to clogged drains. This forced vehicles to navigate through limited space, resulting in a significant slowdown in traffic movement.
The situation took a turn for the worse during the late-night hours, typically known for smoother travel. “It usually takes me around 35 minutes to travel from Bandra to Vikhroli after 9 pm. But last night, I was stuck in traffic for almost an hour,” shared Sushil Pawar, a Vikhroli resident. Many other commuters faced similar long delays and inconvenience.
The Andheri subway, a vital artery in the city, had to be shut down to vehicular traffic due to being fully waterlogged. Dhaval Shah, president of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA), explained, “The heavy rain flooded the Andheri belt, leading to the closure of the subway and waterlogging in many low-lying areas.”
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Mumbai, warning of heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm for the next two days. Citizens were urged to take necessary precautions as civic authorities were expected to address the issue of clogged drains promptly to prevent further disruptions. This incident once again highlighted the city’s ongoing struggle with basic drainage and traffic management during heavy rain.
In addition to the impact on the city, unseasonal rain in parts of Maharashtra caused a landslide between Veravali and Vilavade stations on the Konkan Railway in Ratnagiri district, affecting train services in the region. Train movement was halted at several points along the route, causing delays and inconvenience to passengers.
Overall, the heavy rain led to significant rainfall across various areas in Mumbai. The Western Suburbs experienced high rainfall at locations such as HBT Municipal School in Jogeshwari and Malpa Dongri Municipal School. Meanwhile, the Eastern Suburbs also saw substantial rainfall at places like MCMCR Powai and S Ward.
As the city grapples with the aftermath of the unseasonal rain, residents are bracing themselves for more challenges ahead. The need for better infrastructure and preparedness during such weather events has once again come to the forefront, emphasizing the importance of effective drainage and traffic management systems in Mumbai.
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