While the unseasonal rains in Mumbai on Friday led to a welcome drop in temperature, it also led to quite a few trees falling
Mumbai rain in March
It wasn't just the sudden shower that took Mumbai by surprise yesterday – a mere 10 mm of rainfall caused several trees to fall across the city and its suburbs. While the rainfall was caused by 'upper air cyclonic activity', environmentalists have blamed haphazard trimming and concretization for the trees falling.
Also read: March rains take Mumbaikars by pleasant surprise
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A view of the Bandra shoreline, which was overcast yesterday. Many parts of the city experienced moderate to heavy rain yesterday. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar
Parts of the city were overcast with clouds and witnessed thunder and rain. There was heavy downpour in Vasai-Virar on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, while moderate rainfall was observed in Andheri, Juhu, Malad, Kandivli, Thane, Powai areas last morning. Navi Mumbai too saw moderate rainfall. The Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) reported 10 mm rainfall at its Santacruz observatory until 2 pm and predicted similar conditions for the next 48 hours.
The temperature stayed between 34 degrees and 24 degrees until 5.30 pm yesterday, and many Mumbaikars headed to Marine Drive to enjoy the pleasant breeze in the evening. But there was a drawback too — the BMC's disaster management department got complaints of two trees falling; one in Malad and another in Wadala. No casualty was reported. There were two other complaints of trees about to fall in Goregaon and Andheri.
Mumbaikars also took to social media to report more such incidents. One tree was found fallen in Borivli's Ram Mandir bus stop area. A person posted on Twitter, "Tree fall on the road from IC colony to Borivli station. Near Ram Mandir junction. Avoid the road."
While the department said the trees may not have fallen due to rains, the fact that the western suburbs saw the heaviest rainfall on Friday points to the opposite. Every year, Mumbai sees a large number of trees getting uprooted during the monsoon. Falling trees have killed several people over the years and have also caused damage to property. Besides, uprooted trees also block traffic in the area until the authorities clear the road.
Environmentalist Stalin D said, "I'm not surprised that trees fell after brief rainfall. Some trees in Mumbai are so weak, even a strong gust of wind can fell them. There is no soil cover left for their roots. Concrete blocks their roots and does not allow them to grow. This results in trees falling. The National Green Tribunal had directed the BMC to deconcretise tree bases. We are still awaiting action."
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