Nisarga leaves behind showers, waterlogged roads ahead of rains

MUMBAI: Less than 24 hours after cyclone Nisarga passed over the city and the west coast, the after effects of the weather system were seen with continuous rain and strong winds lashing Mumbai on Thursday morning, even as the city’s waterlogging woes resurfaced ahead of monsoon, mainly in Matunga and Sion.

The city also witnessed its cleanest air day this year on Thursday as the winds and rain dispersed pollutants.The air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 19, falling under the ‘good’ category and the lowest for the year, as per the System of Air Quality

Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

On Thursday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Colaba and Santacruz weather stations received “rather heavy rain” at 49.6mm and 46.5mm till 5.30pm.

As the cyclone threat abated, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sent home more than 5,000 people who had been evacuated before the cyclone’s landfall. Before leaving, they were screened for Covid-19 symptoms. Civic officials said they did not find any suspected cases. On Wednesday, the BMC had evacuated nearly 20,000 citizens, while an expected 30,000 had evacuated on their own after an advisory issued by BMC.

The people who were evacuated included those living near the sea . Authorities had decided to keep them till Friday as they were anticipating heavy rain and also wanted to screen all of them for Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Mumbaiites blamed BMC’s ill-preparedness in making the city rain-ready as severe waterlogging was reported at LBS Road in Kurla, Goregaon, Andheri, Sion, Chembur, and Bhandup. Gandhi Market on Dr BA Road in Matunga and Sion’s Road No. 24 were under knee-deep water, photographs and videos circulating on social media showed.