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Mumbai
Heavy rain caused floods in several parts of the Maharashtra’s Konkan belt as well areas around Mumbai on Saturday, sending authorities scampering to deal with the situation.
Maharashtra State Disaster Management Cell said that floods were particularly bad in Thane, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district. Maharashtra Government sent for the defence forces to enlist their help in rescuing stranded people, including the 1,000-plus passengers of the Mahalaxmi Express that was stranded in Thane district as waters of the overflowing Ulhas river swirled around them.
The Mumbai-Goa highway was closed down after waters of several small rivers on that stretch began to rise dangerously. Officials said that the Jagbudi river in Ratnagiri was in spate after three days of heavy rain.
“We have closed the highway as bridges on the river can submerge any time,” a spokesman for the Disaster Management Cell said.
In Thane, people clambered on to the roof of a petrol pump to save themselves as floodwaters rose around them. At Riverwing resort, the rising floodwaters trapped more than 50 people, state police said.
The Indian Air Force was called in to airlift stranded people.
In the textile town of Bhiwandi, several low-lying areas were flooded, prompting local administration to evacuate people to higher ground. Flooded roads in several areas brought traffic to a standstill.
Low-lying areas in Mumbai were also flooded, although the city fared better than several other places, according to city police and fire services.
The state government has put all agencies on alert after the weather department warned of heavier rains on Sunday.
“Due to the strengthening of monsoon currents and the formation of low-pressure area over North West Bay of Bengal, the rainfall intensity is very ikely to increase over North Konkan during next 48 hours,” the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said, adding that Raigad, Thane, Palghar and parts of Ratnagiri would witness heavy rainfall during the weekend.
The police have already closed access to waterfalls to prevent mishaps.
