Flood in Mumbai: The Indian Meteorological Office issues a red alert for further rain

A red alert has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Pune as well as Kolhapur.

Mumbai is expected to receive heavy to very heavy rains, leading to further flooding as parts of the city have been inundated waist-deep with water since Monday.

In recent years, climate change has made rains more intense and less predictable, although they are common in Mumbai at this time of year.

Officials told the PTI news agency that two people were washed away by the flood waters and one person was injured after part of his home collapsed.

A district government official said the heavy showers also partially damaged at least 32 houses in different talukas of Palghar.

It comes after the Mumbai municipality banned people from visiting beaches on days when the weather forecasting agency predicted heavy rains.

Life in Mumbai has come to a standstill as waterlogging causes huge amounts of traffic and also affects bus and train services.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said state authorities have taken all necessary precautions, with heavy rains forecast across much of Karnataka.

“NDRF and SDRF are based in Kodagu, Karwar and Udupi,” he told ANI news agency.

Flood warnings were also issued by IMD for the southern state of Kerala and parts of the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh amid incessant rains.

(With contributions from agencies)

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