Mumbai to witness high tides on 18 days this monsoon

The highest tide, at 4.9 metres, is expected on June 25th.

While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started unclogging drains and completing road works, its monsoon preparedness will be put to test. According to data, the city will witness a high tide on 18 days this monsoon — when sea levels are expected to rise beyond 4.5m in the city.

Tide levels above 4.5 meters are said to be dangerous as it could result in heavy inundation if coupled with heavy showers in low-lying areas. (HT File)

The highest, 4.97m, is expected on June 25 (Sunday), around 1.07pm, according to data. Tide levels above 4.5m are dangerous because they could result in heavy flooding if coupled with heavy showers in low-lying areas. Last monsoon, the city witnessed rising sea levels on 24 days, mostly the beginning and end of the four months.

In June, the city will witness rising sea-levels from June 23 to 28, followed by July 22-27, August 21-24 and September 19-20, data revealed.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts the country will receive normal rainfall this year. The official date for arrival of monsoon in the city is around June 10.

Officials from the disaster management unit of the BMC said they are taking special precautions on high tide days by deploying flood rescue teams, fire brigade personnel, officials from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), lifeguards and police officers at the six beaches — Juhu, Versova, Girgaum, Aksa, Gorai and Dadar — in the city.

A senior civic official from the disaster management unit of the BMC said, “On weekends and holidays, we deploy additional lifeguards as the beaches get a lot of visitors on these days.”