MUMBAI COMES TO A STANDSTILL AFTER HEAVY DOWNPOUR, BMC DECLARES HOLIDAY



destructive rains lash down Mumbai for the fifth consecutive day, the city wears a damp look, pushing life to come to a standstill. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai, in the last 48 hours alone, rainfall exceeded the 550mm average of the entire month of June.

Before we look at the devastation caused by the downpour, here are some emergency helpline numbers that might come handy:

For flooding, waterlogging, potholes, general aid around the city,
108 - Monsoon Helpline, BMC
1916 - Civic Disaster During The Rains, BMC
108 - Ambulance Service
1512 - For any railway emergency.
100 - Police Hotline
+919822498224 - Emergency Hotline for detours, disasters or help, Mumbai Pune Express Highway Patrol
112 - India’s single emergency number, much like USA’s 911.

Roads and railway lines have been left waterlogged disrupting commute in the city. According to reports, the official government spokesperson has declared that apart from emergency services, nothing else will remain operational in the city.

Authorities have advised people to avoid stepping out of their homes as the Indian Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rains.

According to reports, bad weather has forced the main airport runway at Mumbai to remain closed after a SpiceJet flight overshot its mark while landing amid heavy rainfall around 11.45 pm last night. As of 9.30 am today morning, the Boeing 737-800 is still stuck at the end of the runway. No injuries were reported. 

54 flights have been diverted to airports like Goa, Ahmedabad and Bangalore.

In two separate incidents of wall collapses in the city, 16 people were killed. In Malad East's Pimpripada area, 13 were killed, three to five people may still be stuck under the debris and a couple of others were injured due to a wall collapse that happened at 2 am. A school wall crashed upon two adjacent houses in Kalyan Nagar area around 12.30 am, killing three, including a three-year-old. 

The Indian Navy deployed various teams for assistance to those who were affected by rain in Mumbai's Kurla area after a request by the BMC.

Local trains have been rescheduled after rainwater clogged the railway lines. Central Railways was mostly hit but there has been no disruption in the Western Railways line with just trains being delayed.

Source - BT