Mumbai rain: Two dead, 142 tree fall incidents reported as BMC declares school, college holiday

Heavy rainfall lashes Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Fort on Sunday. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE

With the incessant rain showing no sign of letting up, the BMC has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges on Monday, July 6, and has appealed to Mumbaikars to stay at home and step out only if necessary. Despite the monsoon arriving on June 23, almost two weeks after the typical date, nearly half of Mumbai's seasonal rainfall has already been received. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday forecasted that the city will continue to see heavy rainfall until Wednesday.

Tree branches lie across the footpath of Nargis Dutt Road in Bandra West on Sunday. PIC/SATEJ SHINDE

Meanwhile, two people were killed in Mumbai as over 142 incidents were reported of tree or tree branch collapses amid gusty winds peaking at 77 kmph. The Disaster Management Department received 276 complaints regarding fallen trees or branches within the Greater Mumbai area; of these, 142 specifically pertained to actual tree or branch collapses.

High wind speeds of 72.4 kmph were recorded in Girgaon and Malabar Hill. In the eastern suburbs, a peak wind speed of 75 kmph was recorded at Ghatkopar; in the western suburbs, a peak figure of 77 kmph was recorded at Bandra West.

Tree data

Heavy rainfall lashes Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Fort. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE

As part of pre-monsoon preparations, the BMC's Garden Department had surveyed 162,676 trees; 1,03,000 trees were trimmed, and 648 dangerous ones were removed.

Hard rain

The areas that received over 250 mm of rainfall in 24 hours from 8 am on Saturday included Malabar Hill, Colaba, Byculla, Andheri, Santacruz, Chakala, Vikhroli, Powai, and Bhandup. In this period, the Colaba and Santacruz weather stations recorded 265.6 mm and 227.7 mm of rainfall, respectively. Until Saturday, Colaba recorded 1136.5 mm of rain, amounting to 54.25 per cent of the season's rain, and Santacruz recorded 1156.6 mm or 49.87 per cent.

IMD's weather forecast

Monday: Orange alert (Heavy to very heavy rain)
Tuesday: Yellow alert (Heavy rainfall)
Wednesday: Green alert (Light to moderate rainfall)

Rainfall figures

Colaba
1136.5 mm

Seasonal Average: 2095 mm
% received so far in 13 days: 54.25%
Departure from average: 59.9% (positive +)

Santacruz
1156.6 mm
Seasonal Average: 2319 mm
% received so far in 13 days: 49.87%
Departure from average: 60.5% (positive +)
(Until Sunday morning)

[popcorn number="June 23" desc="Day southwest monsoon arrived in city" class="Default"]