Heaviest rains till June 9: Phatak

Mumbai, Jun 10 (UNI) Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Jairaj Phatak today said the metropolis had received the heaviest rainfall so far till June 9 since the onset of monsoon.

''In all the years, if we calculate the total rainfall till June 9, then this year has received the highest rainfall,'' said Mr Phatak while addressing the mediapersons.

Colaba and Santacruz had received 364 mm and 421 mm rainfall respectively during the last four days ending June 9.

The Municipal Commissioner said Mumbai's ground level is around 4.5- 4.7 mts, therefore, high tides upto 4 mts can be managed. But tides above 4.5 mts coupled with heavy rains cannot be managed, leading to water clogging and flooding in many areas of the city.

''Mumbai is just above the sea level and is surrounded by water from all the sides and gets easily affected when there are heavy rains combined with high tides,'' he said.

On heavy rains in US Midwest, Mr Phatak said even the developed countries in the West were also affected due to heavy rains.

''Madison area in US Midwest faced heavy rains yesterday like Mumbai. But the situation here was managed properly and it was not as bad as there,'' he said, adding, there a dam breached and after that, people were evacuated from their homes in order to save them from nature's fury.

He said that this was not the right time for tourists to visit Mumbai, as there is heavy rainfall.

Additional Municipal Commissioner R A Rajiv said the potholes and the roads that were demaged had been repaired, and it is a constant process.

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