Mumbai at a standstill, sees heaviest rainfall after 2005

The financial capital of India finds itself in the midst of a deluge again. The city stands submerged, with the rainfall being the heaviest  since 2005. Regular life stands disrupted in a city which was trying to get back to normalcy even during the pandemic. The city has so far recorded 15,842 COVID-19 deaths with more than 4,50,000 confirmed cases. From landslides to uprooted trees, water logging, Mumbaikers are facing the worst challenges excessive rainfall can bring.

Here's how the city is coping with the deluge

Mumbai on red alert

Most of Mumbai is on high alert for "extremely heavy rainfall" today. Several areas of the city have already been severely flooded due to heavy rain throughout the night. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Maharashtra, and adjoining  areas are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours. The weather agency also updated its earlier rain forecast from "heavy-very heavy" to "extremely heavy".

Life at a standstill

The "extremely heavy rainfall" has led to major disruption and faults in electrical lines and water supply. Local traffic and road transport are also bearing the brunt. The state relief and rehabilitation department has warned people to not venture out and stay indoors. Mumbai's civic authority, the BMC, has issued warnings.
Local trains, a lifeline for Mumbai's 20 million residents, have come to a halt. All the offices in the city, except for emergency services, are closed. Some of the areas like Worli, G South ward office, B Ward office, Chembur, Kandivali were worst-affected.
Local buses also had to change their routes for safety.

Mumbaikers recall the 2005 floods

This is not the first time Mumbaikers are dealing with severe downpour and its serious implications. They have experienced it before too. On July 26, 2005, Mumbai witnessed unprecedented rainfall which led to severe floods. The incident, then, claimed 1,094 lives. The city recorded 994 mm of 24-hr rainfall.

The reasons for heavy rains in Mumbai

A low-pressure area forming in the Bay of Bengal is bringing this heavy rainfall to the city. Months of July and August witness rains without respite. A continuous monsoon current covers the entire western coast of India during this period. Mumbai's coastal nature, tropical location add to the weather conditions. The southwest monsoon has got revived which is leading to this heavy spell of rain.

Why the city can't cope

Heavy rains and flooding of Mumbai, a city of 22 million people, now seems like an annual affair. The city's outdated drainage system , destruction of the natural barriers against climate change and unsustainable urbanization are the reasons why so much destruction takes place each year. These factors dampen the city's capacity to deal with any situation.

Maximum City's spirit remains intact

Although Mumbaikers face a hard time with rains every year, their spirit is what keeps them going. Mumbai is known to be always on the move. The residents have a tendency to bounce back after crises and get back to their business as soon as they can.