2 Killed as Heavy Rains Lash Mumbai, NDRF Teams Deployed in Flooded City

New Delhi/Mumbai: Heavy rains lashed Mumbai on Saturday, marking the onset of monsoon in India’s financial capital and bringing back civic problems such as waterlogging, traffic snarls and flight delays. At least two persons were killed in rain-related incidents in Maharashtra's Thane district, officials said.

The city has received 75-95 cm rainfall in the last 12 hours. Within 30 minutes of a fresh spell of rain, roads in several areas, including Mahim, Hindmata and Marine Drive, were flooded. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed at various junctions, including at Hindmata, which is the worst-hit.

Fisherman Steni Admani (66) was struck by lightning and died on the spot when he was examining his fishing net at around 6am on Saturday, said Shivaji Patil, chief of the District Disaster Control Cell. In another incident, a woman who was riding pillion on a two-wheeler died after the vehicle rammed into a truck on GB Road and an official said that heavy rains probably caused the accident.

While two flights have reportedly been cancelled due to bad weather, there are reports of several others being delayed. No trains have been cancelled, but passengers have been told to expect 10-12 minutes delay.

Earlier on Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared the onset of monsoon over Mumbai and warned of "extremely heavy rainfall" along India’s west coast over the weekend. "Monsoon has hit Mumbai, Thane and some more parts of Maharashtra," a Met official said.

An NDRF team rows residents to safety in Hindmata area of Mumbai on Saturday. (Rajesh Saple/News18)

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which comes under fire every year for failing to tackle rain-related problems, had claimed that it was prepared this time with precautionary measures in place.

"Leaves of all the senior officials, including Deputy Municipal commissioners (DMCs), Assistant Commissioners (AMCs) and heads of departments have been cancelled and they have been directed to be available in their headquarters on June 9 and 10 (Saturday and Sunday)," it had said.

The BMC said three teams of NDRF would be stationed at Parel, Mankhurd (for eastern suburbs) and Andheri Sports Complex (for western suburbs). They are equipped with walkie-talkies and flood rescue material.

Besides, Navy personnel will be deployed in Colaba, Worli, Ghatkopar, Trombay, Malad for flood rescue if required, the BMC release had said.

As per the IMD forecast, there is a possibility of very heavy rainfall in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts on Saturday. There is a similar forecast for the six districts of Konkan region, including Mumbai, and surrounding areas on Sunday and Monday.

The Southwest Monsoon moves from sea to land and remains active from June through September over the Indian subcontinent. It has two branches — the Arabian sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch — that bring rainfall across India.

The IMD said the monsoon has advanced to parts of central Arabian Sea, Goa, Karnataka, Rayalaseema region and coastal Andhra Pradesh, parts of south Konkan, south-central Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha, south Chhattisgarh, south Odisha, Telangana, and west-central and north Bay of Bengal.

"Increased rainfall activity over coastal Karnataka, Goa and south Maharashtra is likely to continue till June 10. It is very likely to extend to north coastal Maharashtra, including Mumbai, from tomorrow. Extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in these regions is very likely during this period," the IMD said.

The rainfall activity over the regions is likely to reduce from June 12.

The IMD said a low pressure area is "very likely" to form over north Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours and it is "very likely" to intensify into a depression during the subsequent 48 hours and move towards the Bangladesh coast.

Due to this, the Met office said, rainfall activity will increase over north Odisha, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya, on June 9-11 with occurrence of isolated "heavy to very heavy rainfall".

(With PTI inputs)