Fri Sep 27 04:08:17 UTC 2024: ## Mumbai Batters by Heavy Rains, Schools Shut Down, Four Deaths Reported

Mumbai and surrounding areas are facing heavy rainfall and flooding, leading to disruptions in transportation, school closures, and sadly, four deaths. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Palghar and Nashik and an orange alert for Thane, Raigad, Mumbai, and Pune.

**Record Rainfall:** Pune saw its third highest rainfall ever recorded, with 133.0 mm falling on Thursday, marking the highest rainfall for the month of September in the city’s history.

**Schools and Colleges Closed:** To ensure the safety of students, schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad were closed on Thursday.

**Disruptions and Deaths:** Torrential rain caused widespread flooding, halting local train services and forcing the diversion of incoming flights. The heavy rains led to four deaths, including a woman who drowned in Andheri and two laborers who were struck by lightning in Kalyan.

**Infrastructure Criticism:** Former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar criticized the current government for inadequate infrastructure and lack of preparedness for the heavy rains. She called for investigations and criminal charges against administrators responsible for the deaths.

**Monsoon Retreat:** The IMD predicts the monsoon will withdraw from Maharashtra by October 5th.

**Transportation Update:** Despite the heavy rain, Maha Mumbai Metro operated extra services to manage the surge in ridership. However, the Central Railway faced disruptions, with services being delayed and operating at cautious speeds due to waterlogging.

**Civic Response:** The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appealed to citizens to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary and to check weather updates for planning travel. They are deploying workers to affected areas to manage the situation.

The heavy rains are expected to continue for the next few days, so residents are advised to be cautious and follow official updates for safety measures.

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