Mumbai: The residents of Mumbai were completely taken by surprise when several low lying areas of the city were flooded with sea water as unusually high tides hit the city.
It was strange to see flooding in low lying areas such as Shivaji Park, Dadar and Lower Parel as well as Nariman Point, Marine Drive, Worli and the road near the Gateway of India — a popular tourist attraction — even though there was not a single drop of rain to even hint that monsoons would arrive anytime.
Tides measuring 4.56 metres hit the shores at 11.30 on Thursday and the high tide is expected to get even higher on Friday at 4.79 metres.
Rather than get a relief from the high humidity and summer heat, the city was further inconvenienced as water inundated Shivaji Park and other localities, entered homes and outlets and caused traffic jams.
Even Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray who lives near Shivaji Park stepped out of his house to see the extent of flooding.
The high tides were caused by the severe cyclonic storm ‘Nanauk’ over the Arabian Sea. Moreover, it is expected that the South-West Monsoon would progress along the west coast of Maharashtra and Gujarat during the next 48 hours. It has reached Ratnagiri and will take a couple of days to travel to Mumbai.
The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted below normal monsoon this year.
