• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:42 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Maharashtra Rains: As incessant rains lashed several parts of Maharashtra throughout Thursday, the police in Mumbai urged the public to remain indoors until 08:30 am Friday, in view of a red alert issued for the city by the India Meteorological Department. The torrential rains in Maharashtra also wreaked havoc in Pune, Thane, Raigad, and adjoining regions. The death toll from rain-related incidents across the state reached 15, officials cited by news agency IANS said on Thursday.

During the day, the downpour halted flight operations twice at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, according to officials. As many as five arrivals and six departures were cancelled, they said. While all the flights that faced cancellation belonged to IndiGo, the cancelled departures included one Air India and five IndiGo flights, airport officials informed.

Mumbai Rains: Key Updates

- Heeding the IMD's red alert for Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared Thursday a holiday for all schools and colleges under its jurisdiction in the city.

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- In Mumbai, several areas received more than 100 mm of rainfall between 4 am and 1 pm on Thursday, officials said. During the said period, the Malpa Dongri area in Andheri recorded the highest rainfall of 157 mm.

- As many as ten flights headed for Mumbai were diverted to airports in Ahmedabad, Surat, Hyderabad, Indore and MOPA, Mumbai airport officials said.

Pune Rains: Developments

- Pune continued to get battered by heavy rains for a second straight day on Thursday. Due to continuous rainfall in the catchment area of Khadakwasla Dam in Pune, the reservoir reached its full capacity on Thursday. Subsequently, water from the dam was released into the Mutha River twice throughout day.

- As a result of the heay rains, several low-lying areas in Pune, including Sinhagad Road, Bavdhan, Baner, and Deccan Gymkhana, faced waterlogging on Thursday, with authorities reporting at least four deaths.

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- Two people were feared trapped under the debris resulting from a landslide in Lavasa, a police official said.

- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar visited flood-affected areas of Pune on Thursday afternoon to take stock of the situation.

- Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force, the police, the Army, and the fire brigade were pressed into action to carry out rescue operations in Pune's Nimbaj Nagar, Deccan Gymkhana, and Sinhagad Road.

- Reports say more than 400 people were evacuated to safety in Pune on Thursday.

- Schools in several areas of Pune, including Bhor, Velha, Maval, Mulshi, Haveli, Ambedgaon and Junnar tehsils, have been ordered by the district administration to remain shut on Friday.

(With inputs from agencies)