A few hours of rain leads to water-logging again

After a week-long respite, commuting woes returned to dog Mumbaiites on Monday when a few hours of rain water-logged key areas in western suburbs and south Mumbai.

After a week-long respite, commuting woes returned to dog Mumbaiites on Monday when a few hours of rain water-logged key areas in western suburbs and south Mumbai.

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Busy traffic junctions in Mahalaxmi, Elphinstone Road and Kalachowki witnessed heavy water-logging even as many areas in the western suburbs of Andheri, Malad, Vile Parle etc. bore the brunt of localised flooding — a consequence of the civic body’s poor desilting work on roadside drains.

Monday was a high-tide day with the tidal level reaching up to 4.89m at 1pm.

“Heavy rain started much later, at around 3.30-4pm when the tide was receding.

There were water-logging complaints, but the situation could be brought under control,” said an official from the civic disaster management cell.

Corporators in the civic general body meeting held on Monday criticised the administration for its lack of preparedness.

“The flooding is man-made and a clear indication of administrative ill-preparedness.

While action was taken on flooding in the island city, the administration has refused to own up to the same level of responsibility in the suburbs,” said Rais Shaikh, Samajwadi Party group leader.

BJP corporator Manisha Chaudhary said: “The BMC has spent crores on cleaning major drains but of what use is it if the minor ones are not cleaned, as these the ones that cause localised flooding.”

He added that if warning was received from the IMD on time, the BMC could have issued an advisory to citizens and prepare them to deal with traffic disruptions.