Rains in Mumbai likely to be lesser today, death toll reaches four

Mumbai : The State Disaster Management Authority has said rains in the megapolis, which came to a standstill following incessant downpour, are likely to be lesser today. “The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall for today. However, it is likely to be lesser compared to yesterday,” a senior SDMA official said.

Torrential rains pounded the metropolis throughout the day yesterday. The city gauged a whopping 298 mm of rainfall, the highest in a day in August since 1997. “Also, there is much lesser congestion expected as the government has already announced that schools and offices will remain shut today,” he added.

The official also said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on alert and the Navy too has kept divers and choppers on standby to evacuate people if needed. Schools and colleges have been asked to remain shut by authorities amid indications of a fresh spell of heavy showers in the megapolis.

The city and its suburbs virtually have a public holiday today with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis advising people to stay back home unless there is an emergency. Heavy rains claim four lives in Mumbai Four persons were washed away in separate incidents in Mumbai following torrential rains since yesterday, the police said. The incidents were reported from Dahisar, Kandivli, Malad and Dadar areas, a senior police official said.

While two were washed away in nullahs, one was washed away in a drain and the other was washed away during Ganesh idol immersion proceedings, he added. In another incident, one person Rameshwar Tiwari was killed after the wall of a power sub-station fell on his house in Asalpha village in suburban Ghatkopar, police said.

His 35-year-old wife and nine-year-old son sustained injuries in the incident that took place in the early hours, they added. Torrential rains pounded the metropolis throughout the day yesterday. The city gauged a whopping 298 mm of rainfall, the highest in a day in August since 1997.