IMD Director General K. J. Ramesh says the deluge of July 26, 2005 was ‘unprecedented’

The Met Department on Tuesday warned of more “heavy intermittent spells” in the next few hours in Mumbai and its satellite cities where incessant downpour has thrown life out of gear.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General K. J. Ramesh told PTI that the Santacruz weather station, which is in the suburban part of the city, has recorded 8-9 cm (80-90 mm) of rainfall from 8.30 am to nearly 11.30 am.

The Colaba weather station has recorded 15 cm to 20 cm (150-200 mm) of rainfall in the same time period, Mr. Ramesh added.

He, however, declined to draw any parallel of the situation with that on July 26, 2005, when the city was inundated after being battered by rains, claiming hundreds of lives.

From July 26-27, 2005, Mumbai recorded 94 cm (944 mm) of rainfall in a day.

“10-15 cm of rainfall in a day is normal for Mumbai. The one the city received on July 26, 2005 was unprecedented,” he said.

The IMD office in Mumbai was giving updates to the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) and the State government at regular intervals.

The IMD had given a heavy to very heavy rainfall warning to the Maharashtra and Gujarat governments, he said.

“Intermittent rain with heavy to very heavy fall at some places is likely to occur in city and the suburbs,” the IMD Mumbai said.

The IMD’s Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai, has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next three days in districts of North Konkan namely Greater Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad.