Prediction for more rains, rain-related viruses puts Mumbai on tenterhooks

On June 3, the IMD (Indian Meteorological Department) had forecasted 'very heavy rainfall in the city of Mumbai' predicted to go on till July 5. True to the forecast, the city experienced heavy showers with 22cm of rainfall being recorded in Colaba in three hours alone. In the next 48 hours, 'extremely heavy' rainfall is predicted in Mumbai and adjoining areas. The tide too is expected to be over 4.5m at 11.37 am.

"Mumbai has seen worse rainfall in the past years. This time, especially today and the next few days we have learnt will be crucial in terms of heavy rainfall but not as bad as was experienced in 2008. Yet, we are leaving no stone unturned as far as precautions are concerned. We've made temporary arrangements at 299 spots in the city to pump out water in case of flooding or waterlogging and of course, citizens should stay indoors as far as possible to avoid any untoward incidents. Residents who live at the banks of rivers and coastal areas, will be evacuated if need be," said an official from BMC who did not wish to be quoted. On Thursday, IMD's Mumbai centre issued warnings of intense southwest monsoon rainfall over the west coast and arts of interior Maharashtra thereby affecting districts such as Pune, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Parbhani, Nanded, Hingoli, Beed, Osmanabad and Latur.

Meanwhile, an red alert has been issued in the city of Mumbai on July 3 until 48 hours, that is July 5. "We really expect people to cooperate when we say do not venture out unless necessary. This is because of both, the fear of COVID-19 as well as the fear of waterlogging and flooding due to the heavy rainfalls expected. They need to stay away from gutters, broken electric poles, sewage lines and the shore. Besides we have also been making continuous announcements and have made bandobast at coastal areas. We have all equipment for rescue operations ready and are also inspecting dilapidated buildings in cooperation with BMC to assess the danger posed by them," said ACP Avinash Dharmadhikari, who heads the police station in Dongri and surrounding areas. 

Heavy traffic was observed in several areas, including the Mumbai-Nasik highway and western express highway within the city. This, despite the BMC assuring the citizens of arrangements to de-clog drains and sewage pipes for the water to recede easily.

Additionally, at a time when the city and the state are already struggling to cope with the growing number of infections caused by the novel coronavirus, the monsoon brings with it a plethora of viruses and bacteria that lead to the chances of diseases such as malaria, leptospirosis and dengue.

According to Dr Harshad L, infectious diseases specialist at Nanavati hospital in Mumbai, "the biggest worry is that it will not just be the monsoon-related infections but also a good chance of swine flu cases to show up now with the onset of monsoons. This has been a worry for us all along and now it is staring at us in the face. When the fever patients start flocking to the hospital it will be a big challenge for all big and small hospitals to firstly identify a COVID-19 patient from the non-COVID patient and segregate the two. There are high chances that a person who comes in for treatment for malaria sits or lies down next to a patient who suffers from COVID-19 till the time the diagnosis comes in, which will take at least 24 hours. We may have to consider all patients as suspected COVID-19 patients until their tests results come out." 

Residents living alongside the coast, such as Koliwada, Gorai, Worli who are most prone to the ravages caused by the monsoon, are fearing the worst. "We are literally on tenterhooks. if not COVID-19, the monsoon will impact us. If not the rains, the monsoon-related infections will impact us. And the fear of COVID-19 is always there anyway. We are just praying all goes well in the next 48 hours at least," says Mrigang Kohli, a resident of Gorai in Mumbai.  

As the rains show no signs of abating and the city continues to be under a spell of a continuous downpour, a number of areas in the city have been reported to be waterlogged with knee-deep water, The traffic situation too, has worsened with a number of those who have ventured outside for work, given the gradual easing of the lockdown, now finding it difficult to return back home. At South Mumbai's Null Bazaar, famous for its wholesale markets, rainwater has risen upto the level of shop entrances and people can be seen wading through waist-deep water. 

"I can see a motorbike being swept away by the flooded rainwater on the road below my building," said Ishika Kapadia, who even posted the scene on Twitter. 

While the flooding, clogged drains and sewage overflow are only one aspect of the mayhem caused by the rains in the city year on year, what is more worrisome is the impact of incessant rains on the city's logistics and transport that is essential to ferry Covid patients.

"My father in law had to be taken to the orthopaedic surgeon for a fracture in his spine that resulted in a cute pain. But, with the rain showing no signs of stopping, it has become difficult for us to do. We tried calling an ambulance, but it has been two hours already and there has been no update whether it is coming or not," says Mira Ahay, an Ayurvedic doctor herself and a resident of Wadala west. For those waiting outside cemeteries at a time of a heavy downpour, things couldn't get messier.

"I saw a few people run to take shelter under a roof, huddled together. What were they to do? Protect themselves from the showers or maintain social distance? Their dear ones were left alone inside the ambulance, waiting in a queue awaiting their turn for a burial," said Atul Thakur from the Shivaji Park crematorium. "The problem is that the city is not just facing his rainfall, it comes along with high tide each time. But now as the day progresses into evening, we believe that by nightfall, the water will have receded," says the same BMC official, who requested anonymity.