Mumbai Rains break 46-year-old record

With heavy rainfall lashing the streets of Mumbai, rainfall recorded in the last 12 hours has now broken a 46-year-record.

The Colaba Observatory has recorded 293.8 mm of rainfall in the last 12 hours. The highest rainfall ever recorded in Colaba was in 1974 which was 262 mm, while on Wednesday, August 5, it recorded 293.8 mm of rain.

High-intensity rain and thunder accompanied by high-speed winds reaching up to 70 kmph and occasionally gusting to over 100 kmph were witnessed in south Mumbai on Wednesday evening. This wind speed is equivalent to the post-landfall effect of Severe Cyclonic Storm Nisarga (90-100 kmph) which was recorded in Mumbai on June 3.

Meanwhile, the IMD recorded 103 mm of rain in 12 hours in Santacruz on Wednesday. In some parts, 300 mm of rain has been recorded. The observatory has further forecasted heavy rains for the next few hours. Therefore, citizens of Mumbai, Thane and surrounding areas have been asked to stay at home in order to remain safe.

Moreover, water-logging was reported in areas like Fort, Churchgate, Marine Drive, Girgaum, Breach Candy, Pedder Road, and Haji Ali. Many of these areas have also witnessed electricity supply disruption. Hospitals in South Mumbai were also affected with the water overflowing the casualty ward of JJ Hospital while heavy rains damaged part of the Jaslok Hospital building.

According to the BMC, 141 trees were uprooted of which 112 were from the Mumbai city. The continual downpour also disrupted train services due to waterlogging on tracks between CSMT and Masjid railway stations.

There was also instances of heavy rain in districts adjoining Mumbai. Rain in Dahanu in Palghar district broke an all-time record of 24 hours’ rain recorded in August at 383.1 mm. Furthermore, Palghar is expected to continue receiving heavy rain on Thursday, August 6.

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