At least 31 people were killed in Mumbai on Sunday after heavy rain lashed the city. Heavy overnight rainfall led to waterlogging in several areas of Mumbai. Water supply was disrupted in most parts of the city on Sunday because the water treatment plant in the city’s Bhandup area was inundated.
In Chembur, 19 people were killed and five injured in a wall collapse, reported ANI, citing the city’s civic body. Ten deaths took place in Vikhroli and one person was hurt as several huts collapsed. One person died in a wall collapse in Bhandup, while another was electrocuted in Andheri West.
National Disaster Response Force teams joined the police and the fire brigade to carry out rescue operations. The NDRF said that the rescue operation was over.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths. “Saddened by the loss of lives due to wall collapses in Chembur and Vikhroli in Mumbai,” he tweeted. “In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. Praying that those who are injured have a speedy recovery.”
Modi announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the incidents.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced Rs 5 lakh for the families of those killed in the incidents and said that the injured will be given free treatment.
Thackeray directed the NDRF, fire brigade, police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to coordinate in rescue operations and ensure that the injured get immediate treatment.
Meanwhile, state minister Aaditya Thackeray visited Chembur to take stock of the situation, reported ANI. Thackeray told reporters that muddy water from the hill came rushing down and the wall could not withstand the force.
Another minister, Nawab Malik, said that the government will immediately take the decision to shift residents who are living in a dangerous situation to permanent settlements immediately, reported News18. He added that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will investigate the incident in Chembur.
Minister Vijay Wadettiwar said that such incidents were “normal” amid a 300 mm rainfall in a day. He added that Santa Cruz received around 235-270mm of rain while Chembur recorded 200mm on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the chief minister’s office said that Uddhav Thackeray has called for a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation.
President Ram Nath Kovind said he was deeply saddened by the deaths. “I express my condolences to the bereaved families and wish them all success in the relief and rescue work,” he added.
Heavy overnight rainfall led to waterlogging in several areas of Mumbai, PTI reported. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for the city.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Sunday said that water supply in most of the parts of the city will be disrupted for the day due to water logging in the Bhandup water purification complex.
The civic body said that after the inundation, the filtration and pumping plants at the complex had to be shut down as a precautionary measure. “Efforts to restore Mumbai’s water supply are being made on war footing,” it added. “We urge the citizens of Mumbai to boil potable water before consuming it, once the water supply is restored.”
In Borivali east area, cars were swept away by the rainwater.
The incessant rain flooded railway tracks, leading to the suspension of services on both Central and Western Railway lines.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport also temporarily suspended flight operations between midnight and 05.24 am. Nine flights were diverted, according to the Hindustan Times.
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