IMD issues red alert for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad as 'heavy to very rainfall' expected for next 2 days

Mumbai:  With the city witnessing continuous downpour since the last two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai, as well as Thane, Raigad, and Palghar in Maharashtra for very heavy rainfall for Sunday and Monday.

According to the bulletin issued by the IMD on Sunday, Mumbai and its suburbs are expected to experience "heavy to very heavy rainfalls" at a few isolated places today, with intermittent showers throughout the region.

A similar warning has been issued for the city and its adjoining areas on Monday as well with “extremely heavy rains” predicted for a few isolated places.” 

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The IMD bulletin notes, "Intermittent rain/showers with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places likely in city and suburbs. Extremely heavy falls also likely at isolated places."

The Met department has issued a red alert warning for North Konkan, North Madhya Maharashtra, and South Maddya Maharashtra on Sunday. 

On the other hand, a yellow alert has been issued for Marathwada, East Vidarbha and West Vidarbha regions today. While red alert stands for 'take action', a yellow alert cautions authorities to 'be updated'.

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In wake of the IMD warning, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) - the civic body in Mumbai - has asked citizens to be careful and has assured that the civic body was prepared for the heavy downpour.

On Saturday, the Santacruz observatory recorded extremely heavy rainfall at 219 mm, while neighbouring Badlapur, Thane and Navi Mumbai also experienced extremely heavy rainfalls over the last 24 hours beginning Friday 8:30 am.

Air traffic was affected owing to the heavy rains as 11 flights were cancelled at the Mumbai Airport and nine incoming flights were diverted to nearby airports. 

Meanwhile, nearly 700 stranded passengers were rescued from the Mahalaxmi Express after the long-distance train had to halt near Badlapur in Thane owing to the flooding of railway tracks due to the heavy rainfall. 

The train was stranded near Vangani in Thane after the Ulhas river breached its banks due to the downpour. 

The NDRF, Army, Navy, Air Force and railway teams were pressed into service to rescue the passengers with the rescue operations ending at around 3 pm yesterday after a 17-hour ordeal. 

The Central Railway said in a statement that following their rescue, the passengers continued their onward journey from Kalyan to Kolhapur in a special 19-coach train.

Meanwhile, more than 120 people were rescued from different parts of Thane by the Indian Air Force as flash floods took place in the region because of the heavy rains.