In pics Heavy rains lash Mumbai normal life disrupted CM Fadnavis promises all sort of help

Traffic jams have been reported on all major arterial roads, including the Eastern and Western Express Highway, Sion-Panvel highway and LBS Marg as the rains continued since last night.

The MeT Department on Tuesday warned of more “heavy intermittent spells” in the next few hours in Mumbai and its satellite cities where incessant downpour has threw normal life out of gear. The Santacruz weather station, which is in the suburban part of the city, has recorded 8-9 cm (80-90 mm) of rainfall from 8.30 am to nearly 11.30 am, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General K J Ramesh told PTI. He, however, declined to draw any parallel of the situation with that on July 26, 2005, when the city was inundated after being battered by rains and hundreds were killed. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday visited the State Disaster Management Control room to oversee present scenario. “I have talked to BMC disaster management cell and Mumbai police over hotline. Mantralaya staff told to leave early,” he said. “Request people to follow traffic advisories being issued. You can also tweet to/call Mumbai Police, police will come to your rescue,” the CM further added. Due to heavy winds and downpour since morning, six to seven flights had to do go-arounds while landing, and four to five flights were diverted to nearby airports, including an Indigo Guwahati-Mumbai flight to Ahmadabad, airport officials said.

Water-logging was reported in low-lying areas of Parel and Sion. A tree fell on the busy Saat Rasta road, affecting road traffic.

According to an official from the BMC’s Disaster Management Cell, “There have been reports of water-logging in Dadar, Andheri, Worli, Kurla and Sakinaka, among other areas. We have received 20 cases of tree falling and one of a wall collapse.”

Water enters Parel's KEM hospital after heavy rains in Mumbai.

The Mumbai Police has tweeted that South-bound traffic towards Matunga has been diverted to Wadala due to water logging on Eastern Express Highway at Amar Mahal Junction, S G Barve Road and V N Purav Road in Chembur.