Heavy rain ‘red’ alert for Mumbai, Thane and Raigad; people urged to avoid non-essential travel

The IMD issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane and Raigad, forecasting extremely heavy rain and strong winds. Authorities warned of flooding, transport disruptions and landslides, while the BMC deployed emergency teams and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel

Mumbai: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a ‘red’ alert for Mumbai, Thane and Raigad districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds and appealed to people to avoid unnecessary travel.

The MeT office upgraded the warning from ‘orange’ to ‘red’ alert in the morning after observing changes in weather conditions. It also predicted occasional strong winds gusting up to 70-80 kmph over the region.

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The neighbouring Palghar district has been placed under an ‘orange’ alert, with a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and occasional strong winds of 70-80 kmph.

The IMD warned that intense rainfall could inundate low-lying and urban areas, trigger flash floods and riverine flooding in some catchments, and cause water to flow over roads and bridges. The department also cautioned that weak trees could be uprooted, old and poorly maintained structures could collapse, and landslides, mudslides and rock falls could occur in vulnerable areas.

Rough sea conditions and squally weather were likely along the Konkan coast. Road, rail, air and ferry services could face disruptions, while essential civic services such as water and electricity supply could also be affected, the IMD said.

Strong winds and heavy rain could damage plantations, horticulture and standing crops, besides causing minor damage to kutcha houses, walls and huts, the MeT office said and also warned of the possibility of cloud-to-ground lightning during thunderstorm activity.

The IMD advised commuters to check traffic conditions before leaving for their destinations and follow traffic advisories issued by authorities. It urged residents to avoid staying in vulnerable structures, refrain from working in open areas during thunderstorms and not take shelter under tall trees or isolated structures.

It also advised people to unplug electrical appliances during thunderstorms, immediately move away from water bodies and keep clear of objects that conduct electricity to minimise the risk of lightning strikes.

The IMD also urged farmers to harvest mature crops at the earliest and properly cover harvested produce if threshing could not be completed. It advised shifting stored grains to safe locations, avoiding irrigation and chemical spraying, and making arrangements to drain excess rainwater from fields.

Farmers should keep cattle and other farm animals indoors in secure sheds during thunderstorms and lightning activity, it said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) also appealed to residents to avoid venturing out for non-essential work and to maintain a safe distance from trees, dilapidated buildings, hoardings, electric poles and other vulnerable structures.

It advised people not to park vehicles under trees and to stay away from beaches and waterlogged areas as a precautionary measure.

Nearly 15,000 officials and employees of the BMC and other government agencies have been deployed on the ground across the city, while senior officials are continuously monitoring the situation and coordinating response measures, the BMC said.

It asked people not to believe rumours and to rely only on official advisories issued by the administration and disaster management authorities.

The BMC also urged people to strictly follow safety guidelines issued from time to time and contact its helpline, 1916, for immediate assistance in the event of any emergency.