Mumbai's water supply hit as Bhandup water complex inundates in heavy rainfall

A red alert warning was issued for Mumbai by the IMD in view of heavy rainfall, indicating warning and alerts authorities to take action for any possible damage to life and property.

The supply of water in the entire Mumbai region was affected on Sunday after the heavy rainfall inundated the Bhandup water complex, which houses Asia's biggest water treatment plant.

Dark clouds are seen over a city skyline from the Bandra to Worli sea link bridge in Mumbai on July 17, 2021. (AFP)

Officials said that the damage to the water treatment plant's master control centre was caused after the late-night heavy downpour.

The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) hydraulics department said the water supply will resume shortly for the financial capital.

"The failure happened due to heavy rainfall of post-midnight. The BMC is checking whether the systems at the control centre that are waterlogged are functional. The water supply will resume after this," the BMC department said.

Officials added that the timings for supply are different throughout Mumbai, so some parts of the city may have received water on Sunday morning. In an early morning bulletin, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that Mumbai witnessed a sudden change in climatic conditions, adding over 100 mm rainfall in six hours.

The heavy monsoons showers pummeled the city over the weekend bringing the suburban train services on both Central Railway and Western Railway to a grinding halt.

A red alert warning was issued for Mumbai by the IMD in view of heavy rainfall, indicating warning and alerts authorities to take action for any possible damage to life and property.

Following the heavy rains, Western Railway announced the suspension of suburban services due to waterlogging at multiple locations. "@WesternRly Currently No local train services are running in both UP and DN direction till further notice due to waterlogging at multiple locations," divisional railway manager of Western Railway's Mumbai division tweeted.

Central Railway said that due to waterlogging in tracks at Dadar, Parel, Matunga, Kurla, Sion, Bhandup and other locations, train services on the main line were suspended between CSMT and Thane. "CSMT to Vashi services, including Bandra/Goregaon suburban services, are also not working," said Shivaji Sutar, chief spokesperson of Central Railway.

Mumbai witnessed crippling heavy showers with a record 944 mm rainfall in 24 hours on July 26 in 2005.