At least 27 people killed as heavy rain continues to batter Mumbai
In Maharashtra, at least 27 people lost life since last night in rain-related incidents. In Mumbai, 18 people died in the wall collapse incident in suburban Malad while 4 of the 75 injured remain critical.
The incident reportedly happened at 2 in the morning today in Pimpripada in Malad East area after a retaining wall collapsed on few hutments due to heavy rain. Officials added that few people may be trapped under the debris of the wall collapse. Search and rescue operations by NDRF and other agencies are underway.
In another incident in the city which happened around, 1.30 am today, at least three people were killed and one injured after the wall of National Urdu School, fell on the nearby hutments. In one more rain-related incident, a portion of road caved-in at Sangharsh Nagar in Chandivali.
The municipal corporation has asked residents staying in the nearby buildings to evacuate the houses and move to a safer place. A team of BMC officials and security forces have rushed to the spot.
In Pune, six labourers were killed and three injured after a wall collapsed in Ambegaon area late last night. Three persons killed in a wall collapse in Kalyan in Thane district early morning today.
The Navy has deployed various teams to provide relief to rain hit and stranded people in Kurla area of Mumbai in Maharashtra. The Navy informed this through twitter.
In Kranti Nagar in suburban Kurla, 1000 people were evacuated with the help of NDRF, fire brigade, Naval teams as well as local volunteers, to prevent any untoward incident due to overflowing Mithi river.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took stock of the rain preparedness by visiting Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Disaster management control room today. He has announced 5 lakh rupees compensation for the kin of the deceased.
In Mumbai, 52 flights were cancelled and another 55 diverted to nearby airports due to the inclement weather and skidding of a SpiceJet aircraft at Mumbai airport last night. An official said that efforts are underway to remove the Boeing 737 aircraft from the runway and restore operations as early as possible.
Meanwhile, water levels have started receding as the intensity of rains reduced this morning, an official from the Mumbai civic body said today. Mumbai is witnessing one of its most intense monsoon spells this year as the city received the highest rainfall in a decade over a two-day period severely affecting road, rail and air traffic.
“Even as the Maharashtra government declared holiday to schools, colleges and government offices in Mumbai over prediction of heavy rainfall today, the opposition Congress-NCP left no opportunity to lash out at the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena for the deluge in the metropolis and wall collapse incidences in Mumbai, Kalyan and Pune. As many as 25 people lost their lives in wall collapse incidents at these three places.
Colleges affiliated to Mumbai university have also postponed their examinations and have said that new exam time table will be announced soon. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a tweet message said that the state government has announced compensation of five lakh rupees to the next of the kin of the victims who have lost their lives in various incidents in the state and said the Mumbai civic body should also give a compensation of five lakh rupees to the next of the victims in Malad wall collapse incident.
