'Next 48 hours crucial': Maharashtra CM sounds alert; rescue personnel gear up as toll rises to 8
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the next 48 hours would be crucial, as the weather office issued a red alert for several districts including Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg.
Record rainfall, disrupted life
The city received nearly 300 mm of rain in 24 hours, with the downpour accounting for 37 per cent of Mumbai's monthly average. Low-lying areas were submerged, railway tracks flooded, and flights delayed or cancelled. Local trains, considered the city's lifeline, were badly hit as waterlogged tracks brought services to a crawl.
In several suburbs, roads turned into rivers. Cars were stranded, buses rerouted, and thousands waded through waist-deep water to reach home.
Schools and colleges were shut on Wednesday, with the administration urging people to step out only if necessary.
Rising toll and evacuations
Officials confirmed that at least eight people lost their lives in rain-related incidents, including house collapses and electrocutions. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed to carry out rescue operations. Around 2,500 people were evacuated from flood-prone parts of Thane and Raigad.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Unbeatable Prices on Temu
TEMU
Shop Now
Undo
In Raigad, swelling rivers forced authorities to shift families to relief camps. In Ratnagiri, the district administration opened shelter homes for stranded passengers. Rescue boats and helicopters were kept ready as precautionary measures.
CM's appeal and preparations
CM Fadnavis reviewed the situation with disaster management officials and said all agencies were on high alert. 'The next 48 hours are crucial. I appeal to people to remain indoors as far as possible.
The administration is working round the clock,' he said.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) activated control rooms across the city and kept pumps running to drain water from flooded areas. More than 200 emergency workers were deployed to clear fallen trees and restore blocked roads.
Airlines and travel hit
Air travel was badly affected, with major carriers like IndiGo, Air India and Vistara reporting delays and cancellations.
Passengers were advised to check flight status before heading to the airport. The Mumbai-Goa highway also witnessed traffic snarls due to waterlogging and landslides.
IMD warning
The IMD said the intense rain was caused by a low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea, which had strengthened into a depression. 'Very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected over Konkan, Goa and parts of central Maharashtra in the next two days,' the bulletin said.
Authorities said water levels in major dams were rising rapidly and were being closely monitored. Citizens were urged not to spread rumours and rely only on official advisories.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
GB Nagar: Admin asks depts to be on high alert for rains, flooding
The Gautam Budh Nagar administration has asked all departments to remain on high alert, ensuring that adequate measures are in place to deal with any potential flooding, officials said on Wednesday in view of the monsoon showers expected to intensify in coming days in the region. Authorities have also been told to keep a close watch on river water levels and issue timely alerts to residents of vulnerable villages. District magistrate Medha Roopam has directed officials to keep flood control posts active, deploy sufficient staff on duty, and ensure availability of essential equipment. Authorities have also been told to keep a close watch on river water levels and issue timely alerts to residents of vulnerable villages. 'Flood posts must remain functional round the clock and residents of low-lying areas should be regularly updated about the water situation,' the DM said, adding that departments must maintain coordination to avoid delays in response. 'Drains, culverts and vulnerable stretches should be monitored, while pumps and other essential equipment must be kept ready for immediate use', the DM added. The irrigation department has been tasked with monitoring rivers and informing the administration about any rise in water levels. Officials have also been asked to chalk out contingency plans for cattle shelters located in flood-prone zones to rescue the livestock and relocate them swiftly if required. Irrigation department officials said the situation is under control, with no indication of flooding so far. Executive engineer BK Singh said the water discharge of Yamuna at the Okhla barrage was recorded at 79,000 cusecs on Wednesday, down from 91,000 cusecs a day earlier, while the Hindon barrage discharge has remained stable at around 2,000 cusecs. 'The danger level for the Okhla barrage is 200.006 metres, and for the Hindon barrage it is 205.080 metres, both of which are currently well within safe limits. The water discharge at Okhla is expected to gradually decrease in the coming days, while levels at the Hindon barrage are likely to remain steady,' Singh added. The DM has directed the concerned departments to prepare relief strategies in advance, officials said, adding that the preparations include stockpiling rescue equipment, identifying vulnerable areas, and keeping rescue teams on standby for immediate support to residents. To be sure, flood-prone areas in Gautam Budh Nagar include Sector 124, 125, Nagla Vajidpur, Asgarpur, Makanpur Khadar, Makanpur Bangar, Latifpur, Atta Fatehpur, and Navrangpura in Dadri; Sikandarpur, Belakala, Belakhurd, Chak Mangrauli, Basantpur in Sadar; and Govindgarh, Shamshamnagar, Jewar Khadar, Bhagwantpur, Sirsa, Aliyabad among others in Jewar. On Wednesday, the minimum and maximum temperature of Gautam Budh Nagar was recorded as 27 degrees Celsius (°C) and 35°C, respectively. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the district is likely to witness intermittent rain spells over the next one week. From August 21 to 26, the sky will remain partly cloudy with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers expected on most days. The intensity of rainfall may increase towards the end of the week, with August 27 and 28 predicted to have generally cloudy skies accompanied by the possibility of more widespread rain and thunder showers. While no heavy downpour warning has been issued, officials said that even moderate but continuous rainfall could lead to waterlogging in low-lying areas and affect traffic movement. .
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Idol makers in Hyderabad hope for turnaround in weather as sales fail to take off
1 2 3 4 5 6 Hyderabad: With Vinayaka Chavithi just a week away, idol makers and vendors across Hyderabad are anxiously hoping for a turnaround in the weather as sales remain sluggish owing to continuous rains over the past few days. Dhoolpet, the city's biggest manufacturing hub of Ganesha idols, wore a quiet and unhurried look on Wednesday — a far cry from its busy, bustling self this time of the year. The usual festive shopper crowds were conspicuously missing this time, with artisans and vendors pointing out that many customers who had arrived to buy idols chose to return empty-handed, not wanting to wade through the slushy, waterlogged lanes leading to the stalls. "My wife and I planned to go festive shopping over the weekend, but the rains forced us to defer our plans. As of now we're breaking up our shopping into small instalments so that we do not get caught in the rains," Naresh Narayan, a resident of Attapur, told TOI. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Gold Rates Today in Hyderabad | Silver Rates Today in Hyderabad Idol makers said that with sales yet to pick up pace, many idols are being kept in temporary sheds. "These idols are getting damaged due to moisture, further adding to our losses," Ramesh T, an idol maker in Dhoolpet, said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "This is the time when sales pick up, but this year's rains have ruined everything. Buyers are not coming in large numbers, and even when they do, they hesitate to walk through the muddy streets." Apart from Dhoolpet, markets in other parts of the city have also reported dull sales. Vendors said enquiries were trickling in, but purchases were fewer than expected. "Families usually book their idols by now. This time many are yet to do so, as they're possibly waiting for the rains to let up. We are hoping that the last three to four days before the festival will bring better business," said Kiran Kumar, a vendor in Balanagar. Adding to their woes is the rise in input costs. Artisans said clay and transport expenses have gone up this year, forcing them to increase prices. But many customers, struggling with inflation themselves, are bargaining harder or postponing their purchases. "The cost of making idols shot up by at least 20%, but customers are unwilling to pay more. With rains keeping them away, the situation is dicey," said Virat, who owns an idol making store in Dhoolpet. Despite the gloomy start, artisans are hopeful of a last-minute rush of shoppers. "Experience tells us that Hyderabadis prefer last-minute shopping, and the three days leading up to the festival often bring in a surge. People will come eventually, even if it's late. But whether we can recover our investments fully this year is the question," added Virat. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Soyabean farmers heave sigh of relief as recent rain boosts cultivation in region
Indore: Recent rainfall in Indore region has brought much-needed relief to farmers, who have been anxiously awaiting showers to support the growth of kharif crops, particularly soyabean. After a prolonged dry spell raised concerns over possible infestations in the standing crops, the rain has been welcomed as a saviour for the beleaguered farmers. The soyabean crop in Madhya Pradesh, the leading soyabean-producing state in India, is currently in its critical development stage, being approximately 60-65 days old. Farmers had been worried about the dry conditions impacting their yield. Sharing his relief, a local farmer Dinesh Patidar said, "Rain has come at the right time. Many farmers have suffered losses due to the dry spell, but the recent rain has boosted soyabean crops." Most farmers in the state have sown varieties of soyabean that take around 90-95 days to mature. So, just about 30-35 days are left for harvest. Another farmer, Dilip Mukati from Indore said, "Soyabean crop is now out of danger due to recent rain. If rain would not have come then we would have lost our crop." Though downpour has boosted growth of soyabean crop, the overall area under soyabean cultivation this season is expected to decline due to a reported shift towards maize cultivation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo According to a survey released by the Soybean Processors Association of India, the acreage under soyabean in Madhya Pradesh is projected to drop more than 6 percent this season, decreasing to 48.6 lakh hectare from 52 lakh hectare last year. Nationwide, soyabean acreage is expected to drop by 2.63 percent to 115 lakh hectare, compared to 118 lakh hectare in the previous season. Several districts, including Ashoknagar, Guna, Harda, Betul, Khandwa and Khargone, have reported a decline in sowing areas compared to last year, raising further concern among agricultural authorities. Soyabean is a major kharif crop in Madhya Pradesh, with the state farm department data indicating plans for approximately 10 lakh hectare to be dedicated to soyabean cultivation this kharif season. Last season, 9.85 lakh hectare was recorded for soyabean cultivation in Indore division alone. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
