Konkan region to get more heavy rains

MUMBAI - The Konkan region of Maharashtra, which has been getting heavy rains for the past seven days, is set to get more downpours over the next two days, the weather office said Monday.

“Widespread rain with thundershowers would occur over Konkan and Goa during next 48 hours and decrease will be seen thereafter,” said A.B. Mazumdar, deputy director general, Met department, Pune.

Central Maharashtra would also get widespread rain.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur in Greater Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg over the next 48 hours, he said.

Most regions in Maharashtra have received more than 70 percent of the season’s average rainfall including Mumbai and Konkan. However, the catchment areas of Mumbai still are under deficit rainfall.

Kolhapur district in western Maharashtra also witnessed heavy showers in the last week, cutting off 50 villages due to water logging.

With Panchganga river flowing above the danger mark due to the rains, 18 roads in the district had to be shut down, said police officials.

All the major rivers in the Konkan region including Savitri, Vashishth, Jagbudi, Sorad and others originating from the Western Ghats, are flowing at the danger mark, posing a threat to towns and villages of the region.

The Konkan region comprises the coastal districts of Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, besides Mumbai.

They account for an average of around 3,600 mm rainfall during monsoon each year, making it one of the wettest regions in Maharashtra. So far, the region has received nearly 75 percent of its annual rainfall.

“Mumbai itself has received 69 percent of its annual rainfall,” said another official from the Met department.

Although road, rail and air traffic remained largely unaffected in Mumbai, minor complaints of water logging were reported from suburban areas Andheri, Malad and southern parts of Mumbai like Parel, Hindmata and Dadar.