Heavy rain is wreaking havoc across a large part of the country right now, turning roads into rivers and pushing several states towards flood-like conditions. From Maharashtra to Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, roads have turned into ponds in many places. The weather department has issued a fresh rain warning today for parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and authorities have urged people to stay alert.
Red alert in Mumbai and Thane, high tide risk looms
The weather department has issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Palghar today over the possibility of very heavy rain. Mumbai has been under a continuous alert for the past three days, and the monsoon has turned dangerous for residents. A high tide is expected in the city around 4 pm, when waves as high as 13 feet could rise in the sea. If heavy rain coincides with the high tide, low-lying areas of Mumbai could face serious waterlogging. Rain is also expected in Satara, Pune and Nashik in central Maharashtra. Dams and drains in Mumbai are already overflowing, with several feet of water accumulating on roads in low-lying areas, exposing the municipal corporation's preparedness and leading to a number of accidents.
CM Fadnavis urges caution, shares helpline numbers
With the situation worsening, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has gone into alert mode himself. In a post, he directed the police administration to remain vigilant and appealed to citizens to take precautions. He also shared several important helpline numbers so people can seek help quickly if needed. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation helpline number is 1916. For Palghar, people can contact 02525 297474 or +91 82379 78873. The Thane Municipal Corporation helpline numbers are 022-25364779, 0222530 1740 and 91 93723 38827, while the Thane disaster management cell can be reached at 1800-222-108 or 8657887101. The Panvel Municipal Corporation helpline is 02227458040/41/42.
Gujarat forced to shut a national highway, water enters homes
Large parts of Gujarat are also submerged, much like Maharashtra. Continuous rain in Navsari has left roads flooded with waist-deep water. More than 30 homes in the Gandhinagar Faliya area are submerged in waist-deep water, with household belongings seen floating, and residents are being forced to wade through the flooded water to move around. Things got so bad that National Highway 48 had to be shut after it went under water. Besides Navsari, the Dhoraji area of Rajkot also saw heavy waterlogging after rain, with roads flooded across several parts of the city and vehicles stalling in the water. In Dang district, heavy rain has raised the water level of the waterfall at Waghai, while Gir Somnath also saw waterlogging in several areas after torrential rain.
An hour of rain exposes Mathura's preparedness
In Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district, just one hour of rain was enough to expose the shortcomings in the municipal corporation and district administration's preparedness. Several roads in the city were flooded in the very first heavy spell of the season. The force of the water was such that scooters and other items were seen being swept away. The waterlogging caused major trouble for both local residents and visiting pilgrims. Traffic and movement were badly disrupted on one hand, while on the other, people were forced to wade through dirty, foul-smelling water, raising serious questions about the administration's monsoon preparedness.
Car swept away in Madhya Pradesh river, all three occupants survive
The monsoon has wreaked havoc in Madhya Pradesh as well. In the Shahpura area of Dindori district, a major accident was narrowly averted when a car was swept away in the strong current while attempting to cross the overflowing Kasa river. In a relief, all three people in the car managed to get out in time and swim to safety. Following the incident, the administration has repeatedly appealed to people not to attempt crossing swollen rivers and bridges, warning that such haste can cost lives.
Water enters Jaipur hospital
In Rajasthan too, rain has exposed the administration's tall claims. At Jaipur's SMS Hospital, heavy rain caused water to enter the lower section of the trauma centre, disrupting hospital operations for some time. Waterlogging was also seen around the emergency ward, ICU and X-ray room. Rain has caused trouble in many parts of the state, and the weather department has again issued rain alerts for several states today, repeating its appeal to people to stay cautious.
