Continuous rains could wash away BMC's plans to keep Mumbai afloat

Mumbai, Jun 24 (UNI) Incessant rains that have been lashing the metropolis could pose problems for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as the civic body is not adequately equipped to handle the continuous rains.

Briefing mediapersons, BMC Commissioner Jairaj Phatak said, that the intensity of the rainfall in the past 24 hours has been more than 40mm per hour while the BMC's drainage system is capable of discharging only 25mm of water per hour.'' He said continuous rains could lead to water-logging in low-lying areas like Milan subway in suburban Andheri and Kalina campus as these areas do not have proper storm water drainage systems.

''We hope that it will not rain heavily for a longer period, then we will get the time to pump out water from all these places quickly,'' he said.

Mr Phatak surveyed the affected areas and informed that pumps were installed at 30 locations, especially in low lying areas of the city. He said manholes would also be opened to drain out excess water in the low-lying areas, if needed.

Normally the city receives approximately about 2,500 mm of rains during monsoon but in last 24 hours alone Mumbai recorded 200 mm of rains which has compounded BMC's problem.

The Met has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds for the city.

So far, 11 people have died across Maharashtra. In Mumbai, the toll stands at three -- two were killed in a landslide in Chembur while a four-year-old girl died in a wall-collapse at Govandi, he added.

UNI