Pre-monsoon showers lasted Mumbai on Thursday, a day before the predicted arrival of monsoon. The moderate rainfall, which only continued for 30 to 45 minutes, led to severe waterlogging in places like Hindmata in Dadar, Dadar TT circle, Elphinstone Road, and parts of Parel.
Traffic was diverted from Hindmata after water levels rose to around 1.5 feet.
Following the rains, trains on the Central Line ran 10 to 15 minutes late.
A Jet Airways London-Mumbai flight was reportedly diverted in the afternoon to Ahmedabad following air traffic congestion due to bad weather conditions in Mumbai after the rains.
After landing in Ahmedabad just after 1 pm, the flight, 9W-117 with 343 passengers on board, took off for Mumbai.
The India Meteorological Department has predicted “heavy to very heavy” rainfall along the Maharashtra coast, including Mumbai, over this weekend and the Mumbai civic body is preparing itself to prevent and tackle monsoon-related disasters.
According to the reports, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration has taken a number of precautionary measures to tackle any eventuality in view of extremely heavy rainfall warning by the IMD from June 9 to 11, a statement issued by the civic body said.
“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),” it said.
As per the precautionary steps, three teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), equipped with walkie-talkies and flood rescue material, will be stationed at Parel, Mankhurd (for eastern suburbs) and Andheri Sports Complex (for western suburbs).
Navy personnel will be deployed in Colaba, Worli, Ghatkopar, Trombay, Malad for flood rescue if required.