City gets drenched on its way home

It was a wet end to the week as the city witnessed heavy rains and lightning on Friday evening.

It was a wet end to the week as the city witnessed heavy rains and lightning on Friday evening.

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The city recorded average rainfall of 41.76 mm in the city, 40.13 mm in the eastern suburbs and 31.64 mm in the western suburbs. Many parts of south Mumbai received 131 mm of rain in three hours. However, catchments of lakes remained dry. Modak Sagar received only 20 mm of rainfall and Bhatsa received only 15 mm. The other four catchments did not record any rain.

Water logging was reported in parts of Churchgate, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Hutatma Chowk, Malvani and Hindmata.

Those driving from south Mumbai to the suburbs faced get stuck in traffic jams at some places. Traffic jams were reported at Peddar Road and Babulnath. Traffic crawled on JJ flyover, Kalachowkie, Hindmata, Ghatkopar and Haji Ali. The Western Express Highway, Malad, Borivli and Andheri station road also experienced slow traffic due to water logging.

At least 1,500 traffic policemen were deployed across the city to minimise traffic snarls.

Train commuters, however, did not face any problems because trains ran on schedule.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said more than 72 de-watering pumps were activated to drain flood water.

Cracks developed in a Bombay Development Directorate chawl number 22 at Naigaon when it was struck by lightning. The retaining wall of the terrace was damaged.

While supply at Saki Naka was restored in 20 minutes, it took at least three hours to restore supply at Kurla.

A huge tree fell on a BEST bus near Bharatmata junction at Parel bringing traffic to a standstill. Another tree fell near Hindmata junction and traffic had to be diverted. More than 30 trees collapsed across the city on Friday.