Rains lash Mumbai; heavy rainfall predicted in next 24 hrs

Mumbai: Heavy rains lashed the city in the last 24 hours with suburban train services running 10-15 minutes behind the schedule, but no incident of water-logging was reported so far. According to Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai, Colaba (south Mumbai) received 60.8 mm rainfall, while Santacruz (western suburbs) recorded 77 mm rains in the last 24 hours. Weathermen have also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours in the entire Konkan region, including Mumbai. "We are analysing the weather prediction. But primary observations are that rains may continue in Mumbai as well as other parts of Maharashtra and Goa," a MeT department official said. "Heavy to very heavy rainfall is anticipated in the next 24 hours in entire Konkan region," the official added. As per Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) weather station, moderate rain was received in the suburban regions while the island city recorded good rainfall in last four hours on July 2. A BMC disaster management control room officer apprised that the island city recorded 6.42 mm rains from 8-11 AM on July 2, eastern suburb recorded 2.60 mm, while western suburb registered 3.94 mm rains. The official said as per the control room, which also monitors city rail and road transportation, suburban services of Central Railway and Western Railway were reported to be running late by 10-15 minutes. There was no major waterlogging reported across the city, he added. Earlier, civic officials had said that the current rainfall was not adequate in the catchment areas from where the city gets its water supply. "As compared to the rain water stored last year in the reservoirs by this time, we are falling very much short of that. Despite good downpour since last one week, we are not satisfied. Hopefully, it should rain bountifully in catchment areas in the coming days," Deputy Municipal Commissioner (General Administration) Sudhir Naik said on July 1. Currently, the civic body has imposed 20 percent cut in the water supply to the metropolis.