Mumbai:
The India Meteorological Department on Wednesday warned that heavy to very heavy rains will hit Mumbai over the next 72 hours.
Mumbai was once again soaked and waterlogged on Wednesday as incessant rains coincided with high tide. A high tide measuring 4.95 metres hit the metro, after which the sea water moved into 150 houses.
All agencies concerned with disaster management, relief and rescue operations have been put in a state of high alert and people have been warned against venturing outdoors unless absolutely essential.
IMD Mumbai director VK Rajeev said that entire Maharashtra is expected to get heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 12-72 hours.
"Heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur at many places in Konkan, central Maharashtra and Marathwada. Similarly, Mumbai will experience heavy to very heavy rains in the next 72 hours," Rajeev said.
He explained that heavy rains implied 7-14 cm and very heavy rains meant 14-25 cm within a 24-hour rain cycle.
Incessant rains have lashed Mumbai, Konkan, western Maharashtra and Vidarbha since early Tuesday.
Several parts of Mumbai have been waterlogged and flooded since Tuesday morning, severely restricting traffic movement and delaying local trains on Central Railway and Western Railway by 20-30 minutes.
Roads in south-central Mumbai areas of Dadar, Wadala, Sion, Parel, Byculla, Govandi, Kurla, Malad, Jogeshwari, Santacruz, Dahisar, Bhandup and other suburbs were flooded at many places and traffic had to be diverted to alternative routes.
According to BMC Disaster Management Cell, at 1 pm, the city received 4.17 cm rain, eastern suburbs 4.32 cm and western suburbs 3.06 cm.
Many private offices in the affected areas allowed their employees to leave early in view of the constant downpour and disruption in road and rail services.
The situation was identical in adjoining Thane and Raigad districts with rains since Monday night severely disrupting road and rail communication with Mumbai.
Meanwhile, IMD officials have asked people to ignore any SMS warning of heavy floods in Mumbai, saying these are being circulated by rumour-mongers.
