The last 24 hours have been a boon to Mumbai as the thirsty city experienced classic rain showers after an unsettling delay in the usual monsoon for the coastal region. Mumbai’s seven lakes observed a significant drop in water levels during the dry period, so much so that the corporation took measures by applying a mandatory 10% cut on the households of the city to stretch the available water to the longest possible extent while also catering to the people smoothly. When the city witnessed the relieving monsoon, the lakes also saw a change in their levels, and it stands at 7.94% capacity after the overnight rain surge. The change is too minute, but it may improve if the downpour is persistent in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Nashik, and other regions where these monsoon-dependent lakes are located.
According to the BMC water level rates, the Modak Sagar lake was at 20%, Tansa at 1.85%, Upper Vaitarna is still empty, Middle Vaitarna at 11%, and Bhatsa held 7%. In addition, Vihar lake was over 45% of capacity after receiving 142 mm of rainfall, with Tulsi lake reaching 22% after gaining 263 mm of rainfall in a day. The increase in the water levels brings relief, as the city was preparing for strained water management practices if the drought continued, which would have in turn adversely affected the commoners of the city. Mumbai witnessed heavy overnight rainfall, with the BMC reporting 184 mm of rain in the city area, 154 mm in the eastern suburbs, and 190 mm in the western suburbs between 8 p.m. on June 23 and 6 a.m. on June 24.
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During this period, Malwani Fire Station received the highest rainfall at 271 mm, the data showed. With this, the BMC has issued an orange alert in the areas of Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Sindhudurg this morning until 10 a.m. Moreover, a yellow alert is expected until Thursday, after which the usual rain is presumed to persist. A similar alert has been issued for Thane and Palghar. Both Raigad and Ratnagiri will continue receiving heavy rain until June 27, the IMD predicted.
With the deeply desired Mumbai monsoon taking place after a couple of weeks’ delay comes a less-recognized problem of waterlogging in the city, as the morning sights viewed the risky filling of potholes with rainwater on roads and streets, and half-sunken vehicles and pedestrians, which marks a need to channel the excess water to quickly find its way into the nearest lakes and water bodies to maintain movable streets.
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