‘Avoid unnecessary travel, stay indoors’: Maha CM urges citizens amid heavy rainfall

Mumbai, July 4 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday appealed to citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and stay indoors unless absolutely essential, as heavy rainfall is being recorded across the state, particularly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Thane, Raigad, Palghar, and parts of the Pune and Nashik districts.

The government has been issuing various alerts since yesterday. Notably, this region is expected to experience exceptionally heavy rainfall until July 6. Warnings regarding potential gusty winds and stormy conditions have also been issued, the Chief Minister stated.

Addressing the media, CM Fadnavis further noted that certain regions are expected to receive rainfall far exceeding their seasonal averages. To keep citizens informed, the state government is sending out automated SMS alerts every three hours to residents in high-risk zones.

"Citizens need to take these alerts very seriously," he urged. "Schools in several areas have been declared closed today. To prevent potential accidents caused by the severe weather, we strongly request people to take due care," he noted.

The Chief Minister assured that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local disaster management cells are monitoring the situation round the clock to provide immediate relief in affected areas.

According to meteorological reports, an offshore trough, a long stretch of low pressure at sea level, has formed extending from the Maharashtra coast down to the Karnataka coast. This system is expected to persist throughout the week.

Additionally, a low-pressure area has formed over the Northwest Bay of Bengal, which is projected to intensify over the next 48 hours.

As a result, the IMD predicts that rainfall intensity will surge significantly between July 4 and July 7 across Konkan and the ghat (mountainous) areas of Madhya Maharashtra, he said.

The intensity of the rainfall escalated significantly on Thursday, and with the downpour showing no signs of slowing down on Saturday, the state government has issued a high-alert advisory to citizens.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a "Red Alert" for Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar districts for Saturday and Sunday, forecasting heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, he mentioned.

Responding to opposition allegations regarding potholes on the newly constructed connecting link of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, CM Fadnavis clarified, "There are only two potholes right where the connecting joint was made. There are no potholes across the rest of the highway. Some people just find joy in criticising. It is standard for minor patches to develop during the very first rain after a road is constructed. Following inspection, a second layer is always laid out. We welcome the criticism, as we believe in the Marathi adage 'Nindakache ghar asave shejari' (Keep your critics close)."

Meanwhile, a major section of the Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg in Bhandup caved in suddenly on Saturday afternoon. The collapse created a massive crater, swallowing a stationary tempo and triggering severe traffic gridlocks across the area. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported. The incident occurred around 1:00 PM on Saturday, directly opposite the Asian Paints company premises on LBS Marg.

According to local sources, extensive excavation work was underway at an adjacent plot for the construction of a new building. Heavy ongoing monsoon spells triggered a severe soil collapse along the periphery of the deep construction pit, pulling down the adjacent road surface.

A public bus stop located right next to the site narrowly escaped destruction; since it was empty at the exact moment of the cave-in, a major tragedy was averted.

Apart from the tempo that plunged into the crater, three large trees were completely uprooted, and a container office set up by the developer at the construction site also slid into the pit.

The continuous downpour battering Mumbai over the past few days has caused widespread disruption.

In a separate incident at midnight on Friday, a massive tree collapsed in the bustling Meenatai Thackeray Flower Market in Dadar, causing extensive financial losses to local flower traders. Because the incident took place late at night, no lives were lost. However, MNS corporator Yashwant Killedar claimed that a worker sleeping on the loft of a nearby shop had a miraculous escape.

Following the incident, Killedar visited the spot and directed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials to immediately prune vulnerable branches and conduct a comprehensive safety audit of all trees in the Dadar area.

The Dadar flower market usually sees a heavy rush of wholesale and retail traders after midnight, when fresh stock arrives, making the timing of the collapse critical to preventing casualties.

Local representatives and experts are blaming faulty urban development for the rising hazards. Commenting on the Dadar incident, Killedar alleged that rampant cement concretisation of roads and a blatant disregard for National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines are the root causes behind these uprootings.

"Civic guidelines state that a one-square-metre area around the base of any tree must be left unpaved and untouched during road works to protect the roots. However, these norms are routinely flouted, leaving trees structurally unstable," Killedar stated.

On the other hand, officials from the BMC's Garden Department explained the environmental factors at play, noting that heavy rains saturate the foliage, significantly increasing the weight of the trees and causing them to tilt.

The officials added that internal rotting or structural decay within older trees is often impossible to detect from the outside, making them highly susceptible to strong monsoon winds.

Mumbai has been placed on a 'Red Alert' by the weather department following relentless rain and high-velocity winds, which have led to a spike in tree-felling incidents. Just earlier this week on Tuesday, a school student tragically lost their life in Chembur when a pipal tree crashed onto a school bus, putting public focus squarely on monsoon safety.

The BMC's disaster management cell has been flooded with distress calls, receiving 80 to 90 complaints a day about fallen trees or broken branches. Between Friday and Saturday afternoon alone, over 125 such complaints were officially registered.

--IANS

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