Rains continued to wreak havoc across India, especially in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh disrupting normal life. Normal life across many districts in Maharashtra was affected with numerous rivers running above the danger mark in Mumbai, Raigad, Nashik, Sangli, Satara, Dhule, Kolhapur, Thane and Palghar districts.
According to India Meteorological Department, Mumbai has received over 100 mm rain while the suburbs, Thane and Navi Mumbai got more than 250 mm downpour. Rail services across Central and Harbour line have been thrown off track due to excessive water-logging across numerous railway stations. Many long distance trains have been cancelled while air traffic has also been affected to some extent. The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai evacuated people staying around Mithi River in Mumbai while Thane administration has sounded alarm for people staying on the banks of Barvi and Ulhas rivers. The Maharashtra government has also issued an advisory in the state, with schools closed in many districts and citizens asked to step out of home only if absolutely necessary. Several relief camps have also been set up by the state administration.
The Mumbai-Goa national highway was shut for road traffic due to rise in the water levels of Jagbudi and Vashishti rivers in the Konkan region. According to the weather exerts, the heavy downpour is the result of the development of an Upper Air Cyclonic Circulation in the Arabian Sea.
A flood-like situation has developed in Nashik district after water was released from Gangapur dam into the Godavari river. More than 20,000 cusecs of water was released from the Gangapur dam, which led to the Godavari river flowing above the danger mark. At least 400 people from a residential area of Kranti Nagar located near the Mithi river in Mumbai were shifted after it crossed the danger mark.
At least 58 people, who were stranded at a village in Thane, were rescued by the Air Force. The Maharashtra government sought at least six more teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for rescue and relief operations for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar in view of the heavy rains.
45 airlifted & 9,000 shifted in flood-hit South Gujarat
Flood situation in Navsari was grim with all major rivers including Kim, Ambika and Purna flowing very close or above their danger marks, leaving at least 50 villages flooded. The Navsari district administration had to seek the help of the Indian Air Force to airlift 45 persons stranded in five-foot-deep waters in Mendhar village of Gandevi taluka due to incessant rainfall.
The swelling Ambika and Purna rivers forced shifting of around 5,392 people to safer places in Navsari town and villages of Chikhli and Jalalpore talukas and 2,836 in Olpad and Mangrol talukas.
The NDRF also rescued 140 people who were trapped in their homes in Kuwarda village on the banks of overflowing Kim river in Mangrol taluka. Umarpada in Surat district received the highest rainfall of 416 mm. Train movement was badly hampered due to waterlogging on railway tracks between Kosamba and Gothaj stations of Bharuch-Surat sections. District collector and municipal commissioner (in- charge), Shalini Agrawal said, “We are responding to the rescue calls. We have completed all evacuation work and now relief campaign has been undertaken.”
Sickness, stench grip Vadodara
Even though rain has subsided in Vadodara, the situation is far from normal as several hundreds of people continued to live in societies inundated in the five-day monsoon fury. Even though the situation in Vadodara has improved, the worst fears of illness have also started coming true with nearly 15,000 people suffering from fever and stomach infection after consuming contaminated water. The receding flood waters brought to fore stinking garbage on the roads, forcing the administration to mount a Herculean cleaning effort.
