New Delhi:
As Mumbai reels under intense spell of rainfall with the IMD issuing ‘red alert’ for India’s financial capital, a video of a pick-up truck is going viral for its ‘smooth sailing’ in a flooded underpass. So much is the popularity of the video that Anand Mahindra, the Chairman of Mahindra Group, also reacted to it with his much-loved wit. The 13-second video clip showed a man driving Mahindra Bolero pick-up truck without any fuss even as a Jaguar sedan appears to be struggling in the knee-deep water. The incident happened yesterday at an underpass in Navi Mumbai’s Airoli. “We won’t brag over this. It’s an unfair contest. The Bolero’s meant to negotiate such landscapes (seascapes?)But now you know why the Bolero’s my favourite vehicle to drive,” Mahindra said on Twitter.
SkymetWeather, a private forecast group, has also said that Mumbai should brace for more rains. “The Monsoon surge along the West Coast will result in moderate rains with a couple of intense spells over Mumbai and its suburbs but these rains will not be as heavy as they were yesterday.,” Skymet Weather said on its official Twitter account. According to latest reports said that the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) discontinued power supply in areas such as Matunga, Wadala and King’s Circle.
Flight operations at the GVK group-operated Mumbai airport were crippled partially on Wednesday due to incessant rains lashing the city since Tuesday, with around 20 flights cancelled and another 280 delayed, a live flight tracking website showed. However, much to the surprise for Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), the private aerodrome operator, the operations were "normal".
Due to the unprecedented rains, close to 24 flights were held up on ground until 23:30 hrs. As a result of collective efforts, five flights have departed between 22:30 and 23:10 hours, airport authorities said in a statement. Mumbai residents have been asked to call 1916 for any assistance. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) converted 145 civic-run schools into temporary shelter homes for commuters stranded at railway stations. Trees were uprooted in Tardeo and Matunga due to rain.
