Mumbai residents were advised to stay indoors on Friday unless necessary, following a red alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting extremely heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Despite this, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced that schools and colleges would remain open.
On Thursday, the IMD issued a red alert for Mumbai, warning of intense rainfall and thunderstorms expected to continue throughout the day on Friday. This alert comes as the city grapples with the ongoing monsoon season, which has already caused significant traffic congestion, waterlogging, and public transportation disruptions.
Police Advisory:
The Mumbai Police took to social media platform X to share the advisory, “IMD has declared a Red alert for Mumbai till tomorrow morning 8.30am. Requesting all Mumbaikars to stay indoors, until essential. Please stay safe.” The advisory also reminded residents to dial 100 in case of emergencies.
BMC’s Stance:
Contrary to the police advisory, the BMC stated that the weather conditions were normal as of Thursday evening, and hence, educational institutions within its jurisdiction would operate as usual on Friday. The BMC’s post on X read, “The weather and rainfall in Mumbai are normal at present, allowing life in the metropolitan city to proceed smoothly. As a result, all schools and colleges in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) area will remain open on a regular basis tomorrow, Friday, 26th July 2024,”
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The BMC urged parents to rely only on official communications and not to believe any rumors regarding school and college closures. They also encouraged citizens to stay in contact with the management of their respective schools and colleges for further updates.
Impact on Transportation:
The heavy rains led to the cancellation of nearly a dozen flights and the diversion of ten others to nearby areas on Thursday. The suburban regions of Mumbai were particularly affected, with waterlogged train tracks and stations causing delays in local train services.
According to civic authorities, the rainfall recorded in the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 am on Thursday was 44 mm in Mumbai city, 90 mm in the eastern suburbs, and 89 mm in the western suburbs. The downpour resulted in rainwater seeping into homes, flooded streets, and severe traffic congestion.
