Boats on Mumbai roads as heavy rains kill 2

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, June 9

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The administration pressed in inflatable dinghies to ferry people stranded on flooded roads after heavy rains lashed Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and coastal Maharashtra on Friday claiming at least two lives in the metropolis.

In the low-lying areas of Central Mumbai, teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) pressed in several inflatable dinghies to pick up people who couldn't wade through rising floodwaters. "At places like Hindmata Cinema (in central Mumbai) flood water rose to waist level and there was a danger of people being carried away by
swift currents," a spokesman for the fire brigade said.

Police said later in the afternoon that two persons lost their lives during the downpour. While one man died after being electrocuted by a live wire, another fisherman Stanley Admani was struck by lightning.

While arterial roads in the city were flooded, train and air services were disrupted for the second time in a week following the heavy rains.

Schedules of flights arriving and departing Mumbai airport were disrupted by the downpour. Jet Airways announced that departures were late by around 40 minutes while arrivals were delayed by 20 minutes due to bad weather.

The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rains with thundershowers in Mumbai and its suburbs over the next 48 hours.

Heavy rains were also reported from the coastal areas of Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Thane, and Palghar.

The Maharashtra government said it was cancelling the leaves of all senior officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) so that they are prepared to tackle emergencies caused by heavy rains.  

"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)," BMC said in a statement. NDRF naval personnel have been deployed at various places as well, the civic body said.