Mumbai Braces for Heavy Rain: Orange Alert Issued for Key Areas, Red Alert for Raigad

Heavy Rainfall Continues Across Maharashtra

Maharashtra is grappling with severe rainfall as multiple districts experience flood-like conditions. On Thursday, several areas in Mumbai reported over 150 mm of rain, with parts of the city seeing intense downpours. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that this heavy rainfall will persist in isolated spots across Palghar, Raigad, Thane, Ratnagiri, Mumbai, and the ghat regions of Pune and Satara over the next few hours.

Alerts and Weather Updates

The IMD has issued an orange alert for Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar, and a red alert for Raigad for Friday. However, experts anticipate that the intensity of the rainfall will diminish by Friday afternoon, providing some respite from the torrential downpours.

The IMD attributes the heavy rainfall to an off-shore trough extending from South Gujarat to the coast of Kerala and a strengthening western wind from the Arabian Sea. Regional Meteorological Department Director Sunil Kamble has indicated that while an orange alert remains in effect, the rainfall's intensity is expected to decrease soon.

School and College Operations in Mumbai

Despite the ongoing rains, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that all schools and colleges in Mumbai will remain open today. The BMC has urged parents to disregard rumors about school closures and rely solely on official updates. According to the BMC, current weather conditions in Mumbai are manageable, and daily life continues relatively unaffected.

Raigad Faces More Severe Weather

In contrast, the Raigad administration has decided to close schools and colleges in the district due to the severe weather warning. The IMD has issued a red alert for Raigad for July 26 and an orange alert for July 27. Additionally, Ratnagiri and Satara have also been placed under a red alert for July 26.

Government Response and Ongoing Monitoring

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has been actively monitoring the situation. On Thursday, he reached out to the Raigad Collector to coordinate relief efforts for those affected by the flooding. The CM has promised to provide all necessary support to flood-impacted regions.

The IMD's recent press release highlights the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall in various regions over the coming days, including Ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra and Konkan and Goa.