Mumbai, May 20: Mumbai witnessed heavy rains in several parts on Tuesday evening. The rains brought the city to a standstill as the heavy rains caused waterlogging in several areas, traffic disruptions, trees uprooting and thunder striking. Mumbaikars took to social media and shared the videos of the areas which were affected due to the heavy rains. The commuters also faced difficulties in reaching their destinations as the streets were flooded with water.
The most affected areas include, Sakinaka, Andheri East, Mira Road, Bandra, Kandivali, Borivali, Vile Parle, Santacruz, Jogeshwari, Goregaon and Malad.
Waterlogging At Andheri Subway
Andheri Subway is one of the main roads in Mumbai, it is widely used by many commuters on daily basis to reach their destinations. The subway was completely closed due to the evening rains. The Mumbai Traffic Police informed around two hours ago that the traffic on both the north and south lines has been closed due to waterlogging at Andheri Subway.
However, the police later informed that the traffic has been cleared and the traffic is normal. The BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) deployed drainage machines to pump out the water. After a long struggle the authorities were able to clear the subway and the traffic returned to normal in the area.
Rains Exposes BMC's Monsoon Preparations
The rains have exposed the BMC's monsoon preparedness, as just ten minutes of rainfall brought the city to a standstill. The safety and security of residents will be at risk during the monsoon if the BMC does not act swiftly and complete its preparations for handling heavy rain.
Tree Falls, Lightning Strikes
There are reports that a tree fell due to which road was blocked in Powai. Lightning also struck Mira-Bhayandar. In the Powai area, a large tree near the Climate Complex fell during the rain, blocking the road. BMC teams reached the spot and began removing the tree. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. In Mira-Bhayandar, strong winds and lightning accompanied heavy rain. Around 7:30 p.m., lightning struck near Maheshwari Bhavan in Bhayandar West. The intense weather caused major difficulties for drivers on the road.
Monsoon Update
The southwest monsoon is likely to reach Kerala in the next four to five days. In Mumbai, the monsoon is expected to arrive in the first week of June, earlier than the usual date of June 11.
Cyclonic Conditions
According to IMD Mumbai Director Shubhangi Bhute, a low-pressure area may form due to the cyclonic conditions. This will affect parts of Maharashtra, especially South Konkan, South Madhya Maharashtra, and Mumbai. These areas could see heavy to very heavy rain, along with thunderstorms and strong winds blowing at 50–60 kmph.
