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On the first day of the monsoon on Saturday, Mumbai residents were left disappointed as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) failed to live up to its promise of ensuring a smooth rainy season. Despite the rainfall not being particularly heavy, several areas experienced severe flooding, leading to major disruptions in vehicular traffic.
Elected Representatives Absent, Officials Unsupervised
Compounding the issue, since March 2022, when the tenure of the corporators ended, there have been no elected representatives to oversee the work of the officials. As a result, the officials have been operating without proper supervision, leading to a lack of accountability within the civic body.
Flooding Hotspots: Gandhi Market and King’s Circle Railway Station
Gandhi Market and King’s Circle railway station, known for experiencing frequent flooding during monsoons, lived up to their reputation as they were inundated within minutes of the rainfall. Despite the BMC’s installation of dewatering pumps at these locations, they proved ineffective in preventing the flooding.
The heavy traffic extended from Sion Circle to the northbound lane, while the southbound lane all the way to Dadar TT Circle also faced significant disruptions. Although efforts were made to redirect northbound traffic through Bhaudaji Road, it had limited success as vehicles could only move very slowly.
Even areas in South Bombay (SoBo), such as Peddar Road and Napeansea Road, which are usually less affected during the monsoon, experienced flooding, causing water to enter some cars. Consequently, a massive traffic jam ensued at Breach Candy and other nearby areas.
Andheri Subway Closure Amplifies Traffic Woes
Andheri subway, infamous for waterlogging during the monsoons, encountered significant accumulation of water within an hour of the rainfall. This forced traffic officials to close the subway, diverting traffic towards Andheri station road, Western Express Highway (WEH), and SV Road. Unfortunately, this diversion, combined with the closure of the subway, led to heavy traffic congestion on SV Road near Goregaon and other suburbs. Exasperated motorist Vibhav Prabhakar described the situation on the highway as “hellish.”
Weather Updates and Incidents
According to the Meteorological Department (MET), Colaba area recorded 1.4 mm of rainfall till 5:30 pm, while Santacruz division reported 27.8 mm of rainfall. The MET department upgraded the forecast for Mumbai to an Orange alert for the next
24 hours. Additionally, the Colaba MET department’s automatic rainfall measurement centers registered 65.60 mm of rainfall in the city area, 69.86 mm in the eastern suburbs, and 73.57 mm in the western suburbs until 8 pm on Saturday. The weather is expected to remain cloudy on Sunday, with heavy rainfall anticipated in the next 24 hours.
Tree Branches Falling and Short Circuits
Incidents of tree branches falling were reported at 11 different locations in Mumbai. The BMC noted that four incidents occurred in the city, five in the western suburbs, and two in the eastern suburbs.
The city also witnessed seven incidents of short circuits, but no injuries were reported. The concerned departments were promptly alerted, and assistance was dispatched to the affected areas by the BMC.
House Collapse and Drowning Incidents
A house collapse was reported in the western suburbs due to heavy rainfall on Saturday. Further, two individuals drowned in a 90-foot drain at road no. 10 in Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, near the Bus Depot. While the Shivaji Nagar police managed to retrieve the bodies, the victims were declared dead by medical officers.
As Mumbaikars grapple with the challenges posed by the monsoon, it remains to be seen how the BMC will respond to the ongoing situation. The city’s residents are hopeful that the civic administration will take immediate action to address the flooding and traffic issues, ensuring a safer and more efficient monsoon season ahead.