The city was once again knocked to its knees by the severe rains on Wednesday. Despite the BMC and railroads doing rigorous pre-monsoon checks every year, the scenario turned terrifying due to water-logged roads and train lines, overflowing storm water drains (SWDs), and congested traffic. What then went wrong?
According to all official sources, the city’s 257mm of rainfall caused all of the meticulously planned events to go awry. Mahesh Narvekar, the director of the BMC’s disaster control unit, stated that the rain’s intensity above the “extreme” threshold yesterday. In certain places, 274 mm of rainfall was the highest amount ever recorded. Some places in the eastern suburbs had 200mm between 6 and 9 p.m. This explains the reported cases of waterlogging. However, the time frame for retention was not much.
The eastern suburbs of Ghatkopar, Mankhurd, Govandi, LBS Road in Vikhroli, and Bhandup—areas known for their frequent flooding—saw a greater intensity of the unceasing rain. However, the BMC’s prompt action allowed for the waterlogging to be controlled. Throughout the city, more than 300 dewatering pumps were in use.
The ventilation shafts present the lone chance of water intrusion, albeit a very small one, but even those have been eliminated by employing motors to push the water away. Bhide claims that since sufficient measures have been taken to preserve the subterranean 33.5 km route dry and safe, flooding cannot occur there.
Source: Hindustan Times
