Heavy rains continued to lash Mumbai and neighbouring areas for the fourth consecutive day with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting intense spells in isolated areas.

The IMD had issued an 'orange' alert for the city, saying that the trend is likely to continue at isolated places.

IMD Mumbai's Deputy Director General K S Hosalikar had tweeted about the forecast on Thursday. He posted, "Mumbai is issued with ORANGE ALERT for Rainfall for today. Intense spells are being observed during day. Trend is likely to continue at isolated places. Pl take care."

The Santacruz weather station recorded 129.4 mm rain between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm on Thursday, whereas the Colaba weather bureau reported 18.8 mm rainfall during the same period.

Even Bandra and Mahalaxmi had received 201 mm and 129 mm rainfall respectively between 8:30 am on Wednesday and 6:30 am on Thursday.

Instances of severe water-logging due to the intense showers were reported from Dadar, Matunga, Santacruz, Bandra, and Antop Hill. 

In photo: An inundated Malad subway that was closed for traffic.

Meanwhile, Alibaug observatory in Raigad district recorded 48.4 mm rain between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, whereas Matheran bureau recorded 22 mm rains during this period. Thane-Belapur Industries Association weather bureau station recorded 38.4 mm rain.

The interiors of Maharashtra also received moderate to heavy rains on Thursday. Kolhapur district received 21 mm rain, Ratnagiri district received 17 mm rain and Beed in Marathwada region recorded 15 mm rainfall.

In photo: A woman walks through a busy road during heavy rain.

The continuous incessant rains also caused traffic snarls in different parts of the city.

Many routes were diverted as the police had closed roads and flyovers in several parts of the city due to water-logging. 

In photo: A child wearing a raincoat enjoying the weather at seashore.

Three building collapse incidents were also reported in Malad, Fort, and Thane in which four people were killed and several others were injured.

The weather bureau said the intensity of rain will reduce from Friday, with forecast of light to moderate rain for the next four days over Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar.

From July 1 to July 16, Mumbai has recorded 1,152.6 mm rain as opposed to the average 840.7 mm for the month.

Four days that added to the bulk of rainfall are July 4 (157 mm), July 5 (200.8
mm), July 6 (116.1 mm) and July 16 (191.2 mm).

As per the 48-hour forecast by the IMD, the city will witness a generally cloudy sky with moderate rainfall.

In a special bulletin, IMD said, “Monsoon activity remained widespread on Wednesday over Konkan-Goa, including Mumbai, with scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy rain at isolated places. Interior Maharashtra also received widespread moderate rainfall with isolated heavy rain. Under the influence of strong lower level wind convergence along the West coast and east-west shear zone in mid tropospheric levels, enhanced rainfall activity over the region is expected till Thursday, with significant reduction thereafter.”

In photo: A man rides his bicycle during intense spell of rainfall near Veer Savarkar Chowk in SV Road in Malad East.