MUMBAI: The IMD issued a 'red alert', forecasting extremely heavy rains at isolated places in Mumbai and neighbouring areas on Monday, prompting the city civic body to declare a holiday for all schools and colleges, officials said.
A Mumbai airport spokesperson said nine flights conducted "go arounds" before finally landing, while one flight was diverted to Surat (in Gujarat) till 12 noon due to the heavy rains.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) appealed to residents to step out only if necessary, and the IMD asked fishermen not to venture into the Arabian Sea.
Roads in several areas got inundated after the heavy downpour for the third consecutive day on Monday.
Some low-lying areas like the Andheri Subway and Lokhandwala Complex witnessed water accumulation at a few locations, affecting traffic movement.
Local trains, considered as the lifeline of the metropolis, were running late by 8 to 10 minutes and there was no suspension of services, according to officials.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Mumbai received 177 millimetres 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.
"Offices have been told to allow workers to leave for home at 4pm. After 6.30 pm, 3m to 4m tides are expected. The decision on closure of schools on Tuesday will be taken at an appropriate time. Citizens must not venture out without reason," he said.
The CM said crops spread across 4 lakh hectares have been affected statewide and district collectors have been authorized to take decisions regarding relief and rescue operations.
Talks are on with Karnataka regarding discharge of Allmatti dam water from that state, Fadnavis said.
More than 200 villagers were stranded in the Nanded district of the state after the incessant rains, five persons are reported missing from Mukhed taluka of Nanded district, around 600 km from Mumbai, CM Fadnavis said.
The suburban services on the Central Railway route were affected as water accumulated on tracks in a few low-lying areas on the Harbour Line, and due to failure of track changing points between Kurla and Tilak Nagar stations, as per the officials.
The blinding rain in some parts of the city affected visibility and slowed down vehicular movement, as per motorists.
There was no diversion of any routes of bus services of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, the officials said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai, and neighbouring Thane and Raigad districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy showers at isolated locations on Monday and Tuesday.
It also issued a red alert for Ratnagiri district on Monday, and an orange alert for Sindhudurg on Monday and Tuesday.
BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani announced that all educational institutions would remain shut for the afternoon session, citing the safety of students amid continuous downpour since morning.
The civic body, in a statement, appealed to the people to step out only if necessary.
It also appealed to residents to contact its disaster control helpline 1916 in case of emergencies or for official updates.
Heavy rains have been lashing Mumbai since Saturday.
After the heavy downpour overnight on Monday, the rain intensity further increased from 9 am, a civic official said.
The island city, eastern and western suburbs recorded an average rainfall of 37 mm, 39 mm and 29 mm, respectively, in just one hour from 9 am.
Chembur in the eastern suburbs recorded the highest rainfall of 65 mm, followed by 50 mm in Shivaji Nagar in the one-hour period, the official said.
In the 24 hours ending at 8 am on Monday, the island city recorded an average rainfall of 54.58 mm, the eastern suburbs received 72.61 mm, while the western suburbs recorded 65.86 mm rain, according to officials.
Several areas recorded more than 100 mm rainfall during the period, they said.
Army called in to rescue over 200 stranded after heavy rains in Nanded
More than 200 people were stranded in different villages amid heavy rains in Maharashtra's Nanded district, prompting authorities to deploy the Indian Army for rescue and relief efforts.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Nanded district, forecasting heavy rains on Monday and Tuesday.
Talking to PTI, Nanded collector Rahul Kardile said the district administration has called in a unit of the Indian Army to rescue people stranded in the floods.
"An Army team of 15 members will be deployed in the Mukhed area of Nanded. Water discharge from dams is also underway.
I have also called the irrigation department secretary of neighbouring Telangana state and requested them to manage water discharge from Pochampad Dam in their jurisdiction if needed," he said.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued 21 people stranded in Ravangaon and Hasnal villages of Mukhed taluka amid heavy rains on Sunday, the collector said.
He said more than 200 people are stranded in Ravangaon, Hasnal, Bhaswadi and Bhigeli villages of the taluka, and efforts are underway to rescue them.
"If needed, we can rope in rescue teams deployed in Latur.
Water is being discharged from dams, and we may need teams in Hadgaon, Himayatnagar and Kinwat.
An alert has been given to the villages on the banks of the Godavari basin," he added.
Fadnavis held a comprehensive review meeting at the State Disaster Management Cell in Mantralaya and instructed all departments and authorities to remain on high alert in view of the red alert issued by the India Meteorological Department, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall in several parts of the state between August 17 and 21.
During the meeting, divisional commissioners presented updates on rainfall and damages in their respective regions, the statement said.
Several rivers in the Konkan region have crossed danger marks, and Jalgaon has reported significant damage. Talks are on with Karnataka regarding the discharge of Allmatti dam water from that state, it was stated.
In Mukhed taluka of Nanded district, the situation has been brought under control, while around 800 villages have been affected in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division.
The police have been instructed to remain alert at tourist spots, activate disaster response systems in landslide-prone areas, and ensure adequate provision of food, clean water, and bedding in relief shelters.
Meanwhile, Mumbai suburban district guardian minister Ashish Shelar said he had reviewed the situation in the metropolis through the disaster management cell of the BMC and had taken stock of the rainfall, flooding, school conditions and public transport.
"Local train services were functional with some disruptions, while BEST has been instructed to operate additional bus services if passengers are stranded at major (railway) terminals such as Dadar and Mumbai Central," he said.
All top civic and police officials are on the ground, the minister and senior BJP leader said.
Trees and branches have fallen in 30 to 40 locations in the city, and instructions have been issued to remove such hurdles and restore vehicular traffic speedily, Shelar informed.
He said one person was injured at Napean Sea Road in south Mumbai after a protection wall fell on a tree due to heavy rains.
Pumping stations are functioning optimally across the city, and authorities are reviewing how much water is receding with the help of the pumps, he said.