The city of Mumbai experienced heavy rainfall on Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18, 2021, due to which several localities were affected because of flooding. As per reports released from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), the office and a few residential quarters of forest officers were damaged due to the rain.
It is said that the floodwater entered the five houses of the forest officers on Sunday due to the heavy rainfall. In an interview with The Indian Express, the director of the park, G Mallikarjun said that the damage was reported as the water level in Dahisar river increased. This started from the foothills of the SGNP and eventually affected the quarters used by the officers in SGNP.
Also Read: SGNP to open gates for walkers and cyclists from June 15
All the staff members initially moved to the director's house post which they were shifted to the guesthouse located at a higher altitude. Besides the houses, several household items, clothes and computers were damaged too. Many houses have also been filled with mud which needs to be removed and the same is expected to take a few days.
Meanwhile, SGNP has been planning the construction of a new office and quarters. The process is underway and is expected to be completed soon. Sharing more information, Sunil Limaye, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) told The Indian Express that the incident occurred because of the heavy rainfall and once the new quarters are constructed, the staff members would not have such complaints or concerns.
Also Read: 812 Acres of Aarey Land Near SGNP Transferred to the State Forest Department
Similar situations have been reported twice in the recent past, post which the plan for new offices and quarters was submitted. However, the same was not approved and the financial aid was sanctioned.
Besides this, two walls collapsed in Mumbai's Chembur and Vikhroli areas in the midnight on Saturday. As per reports, a total of 24 people died due to the incident, of which 15 were from Vikhroli and nine from Chembur. The torrential rainfall led to the collapse where the wall fell on more than five houses in the midnight, claiming the lives of the residents. NDRF teams rushed to the spot to clear the rubble and it is said that many residents were yet to be rescued from the rubble.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his grief and offered condolences. The statement was released by the PMO which shared information about the compensation offered for the kin of the deceased and those injured.
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