Floods claim 15 lives in Mumbai
mumbai — Two toddlers were among 15 people killed in Mumbai after floods caused by heavy monsoon rains destroyed homes and disrupted traffic in India’s financial capital, police said, but lighter-than-feared rain on Wednesday helped relief efforts.
Tuesday’s deluge in Mumbai — nearly a month’s average rainfall in a single day — had halted train services and led to flight cancellations.
More heavy rains had been forecast for Wednesday, forcing the government to order schools and colleges shut, but in many areas the downpours were lighter.
“The city and suburbs received a few showers in the last few hours but rainfall wasn’t heavy like yesterday,” said K.S. Hosalikar, a senior India Metrological Department official.
“However, in the next few hours Mumbai and adjourning areas are likely to get fairly widespread rainfall, which will be heavy in few pockets,” said Hosalikar —
mumbai — Two toddlers were among at least 15 people who died after floods caused by heavy seasonal monsoon rains destroyed homes and disrupted traffic in India’s financial capital, police said on Wednesday.
A dozen people, mainly senior citizens, are reportedly missing in different parts of Mumbai though many are suspected as ‘lost’ or temporarily not able to communicate.
Train services resumed slowly and dozens of commuters began walking to work in Mumbai, a city of 20 million people that is home to India’s two biggest stock exchanges and the headquarters of several major companies.
Some low-lying areas remained under water, causing vehicle pileups, after the city received nearly a month’s equivalent of rainfall in a single day. Authorities ordered schools and colleges to shut following forecasts of more rain.
“There are several stranded cars and two-wheelers on the roads that we are clearing,” said traffic police official Amitesh Kumar.
“We are not expecting any major traffic jams as the machinery is geared up and the rain forecast is also not as bad.”
Police said a 45-year-old woman and a 1-1/2-year-old child, members of the same family, died after their home in the northeastern suburb of Vikhroli crumbled late on Tuesday, while a 2-yearold girl died in a wall collapse.
In the neighbouring city of Thane, three people died after being swept away by floods, police added.
Several firms made arrangements to provide food and rest areas for employees stuck in offices, while officials of temples and religious bodies offered help to those stranded on streets.
Flights faced delays of up to 15 minutes, a spokeswoman for the Mumbai airport said, following several cancellations late on Tuesday.
The deluge revived memories of 2005 floods that killed more than 1,000 people, the majority of them in shantytown slums where more than half the city’s population lives.
Unabated construction on floodplains and coastal areas, as well as stormwater drains and waterways clogged by plastic garbage have made the city increasingly vulnerable to storms.
In a message on social network Twitter, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered crisis-mitigation assistance to the government of Maharashtra, the western state whose capital Mumbai is.
Meanwhile, in another display of Mumbai’s indomitable spirit, the maximum city opened its heart and hearth for millions left high and dry following Tuesday’s deluge — the heaviest rainfall after 2005.
Several thousands of individuals, social groups, housing societies, Parsi sanatoria, gurudwaras, temples, mosques and dargahs, churches and NGOs entered the fray as the extent of nature’s fury became clear.
Appeals started trickling on social media like WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook. There were also SMSs asking people to move to the nearest place of shelter for a warm cuppa, snacks and even meals and a comfortable nest during the pouring evening on Tuesday.
Thousands trooped down to the main roads, highways and arterial roads inviting or offering people hot beverages and snacks, some giving their mobile phones or chargers to help the stranded to make calls to their anxious relatives.—