Heavy rains continued to batter Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra for the third consecutive day yesterday, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued high alerts for the next two-five days, officials said.
The downpour and water-logging have added to the concerns of India’s financial capital already grappling with a high number of coronavirus cases.
As incessant rains pounded the city, Mumbai’s Powai Lake started overflowing yesterday.
High tides hit the coast in Colaba in south Mumbai yesterday morning, leading officials to warn people to stay away from the seashore.
A large number of people from the Koli fishing community in Mumbai, living in low-lying areas, have sought help from the local administration after the intense spell of rainfall.
Due to the lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak, the municipal authorities could only carry out 40% of the pre-monsoon work this year, according to NDTV network.
However, officials said the monsoon has not yet impacted the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mumbai Police asked citizens to “check official updates before stepping out of homes.”
The authorities deployed men in the low-lying areas to clear the water.
“At present traffic has been diverted from Andheri subway due to water-logging,” said Pravin Padval, additional commissioner of police. Traffic moved slowly at Jogeshwari Vikhroli link road due to water-logging near Western Express Highway.
The famed picnic spot of Bhushi Dam in Lonavala in Pune district started overflowing after three days of rain in the region, bringing cheers to the locals.
Over the weekend, the entire Konkan belt and parts of western and northern Maharashtra received good rain, and upbeat farmers got busy with the sowing season.
The south-west monsoon, which usually hits Mumbai around June 10, was disturbed owing to Cyclone Nisarga that hit Raigad on June 3.
Waves hit structures built along the coast during monsoon rains in Mumbai yesterday.
