Mumbai rain brings city to a standstill, marks highest August precipitation this year

Mumbai rain: In a dramatic turn of weather events, Mumbai, India's bustling metropolis, experienced an abrupt halt as heavy rainfall inundated the city and its suburbs, causing disruptions to daily life and vehicular movement. The city, which had previously experienced a dry spell, was struck by intense rain on Sunday, resulting in partial hindrances to transportation.

The downpour, preceded by a period of dryness, escalated in intensity with moderate showers drenching Mumbai and its neighboring districts on Friday. An Indian Express report confirmed that this bout of rain marked the highest recorded August precipitation of the year.

#WATCH | Maharashtra | Heavy rain lashes Mumbai city. pic.twitter.com/HREF8KC1ji — ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2023

As per the data provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Santacruz weather station registered a rainfall of 16mm, while the Colaba observatory recorded 15.6mm of showers. The previous day, the same stations reported 44.6mm and 10.2mm of rainfall, respectively.

Due to the significant surge in rainfall, the IMD issued a yellow alert for Mumbai and its adjoining districts of Thane and Raigad, indicating the likelihood of heavy rain within the next 24 hours.

While the rainfall caused minor disruptions in the city, it also brought a marginal increase in water levels in Mumbai's seven lakes. The water stock rose to 86.48% of the total capacity, signaling a promising development for the city's water supply.

However, the recent deluge evoked memories of the more severe monsoon events that struck Mumbai and the surrounding areas in July. These heavy showers led to extensive waterlogging, paralyzing transport networks and affecting road and highway movement. The intensity of the monsoon rains even triggered a devastating landslide in Irshalwadi, Raigad, claiming the lives of 27 individuals.

The district of Raigad, located near Mumbai, has borne the brunt of this year's monsoon fury, with recorded rainfall of 2510.8 mm, amounting to 81.6% of its average annual precipitation. In comparison, the district had received 95.7% of its average rainfall by the same time in 2022, underlining the severity of this year's deluge.

- With inputs from agencies

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