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It’s raining good news this June

Month Is Set To Top Chart For ‘Heaviest June Rainfall’ In 10 Yrs

Mumbai: You are not wrong if you think it has been raining heavily this June. The month is already third on the list of heaviest rainfall recorded in June in the last decade. Experts are even insisting that with one week to go before finalising the data, June 2010 is sure to top the chart.
    Irrespective of what happens, the city has already got more than its quota of average rainfall for the month. In fact, the heavy showers from Tuesday to Wednesday accounted for the maximum amount of rainfall this month.
    A report prepared by the BMC on the rainfall pattern from 2001 shows that while last June witnessed the least amount of rainfall, 2008 saw the maximum June rainfall in the last 10 years. While Colaba and Santa Cruz received a total of 634.1 mm and 653.6 mm respectively in June 2008, the corresponding figures (up to Wednesday) were 636.4 mm and 440.6 mm for this year.
    In the 36-hour period between Tuesday (8.30 am ) and Wednesday (8.30 pm), the island city received 106.81 mm of rainfall, eastern suburbs, 155.58 mm and western suburbs received 103.98 mm.
    “The rainfall’s been very good this month, especially compared to last June when Colaba and Santa Cruz recorded a total of just 15.7 mm and 5 mm respectively,’’ said Mahesh Narvekar, chief officer, disaster management.
    Incidentally, many parts of the city were waterlogged on Wednesday following the heavy overnight showers. Cases of wall collapse were recorded at Ghatkopar (W) and Bandra (E). While in Ghatkopar, a portion of the wall of a bridge near a cemetery caved in, another wall of a threestoreyed hut in Behrampada came crashing down in the morning. No one was injured in either of the cases.
    At Varsha Nagar in Vikhroli, a huge rock fell on two huts in the wee hours of the morning. A 15-year-old boy sustained minor injuries in the incident and was treated at the Rajawadi hospital.
    “Because of the high tide in the morning, water in some areas took a longer time to recede. But by afternoon, the situation was brought under control,’’ said civic chief Swadheen Kshatriya.
TOTAL
RAINFALL^*
All figures for June
2001
Colaba- 533 mm Santa Cruz- 602.7 mm
2002
Colaba- 329.6 mm Santa Cruz- 282 mm
2003
Colaba- 409.6 mm Santa Cruz- 525.7 mm
2004
Colaba- 292.4 mm Santa Cruz- 240.5 mm
2005
Colaba- 175.3 mm Santa Cruz- 137.9 mm
2006
Colaba- 107.6 mm Santa Cruz- 62.9 mm
2007
Colaba- 132.1 mm Santa Cruz- 153.7 mm
2008
Colaba- 634.1 mm Santa Cruz- 653.6 mm
2009
Colaba- 15.7 mm Santa Cruz- 5.0 mm
2010
Colaba- 636.4 mm Santa Cruz- 440.6 mm (June 23, up to 3 pm)

BIG SPLASH: A child revels in the rain at Vashi

Lake levels rise, but rains bypass Vaitarna

Mumbai: Even catchment areas that supply water to the city are making the most of the heavy rainfall this monsoon. In fact, June has already seen the six major lakes receiving between 200 mm and 680 mm of rainfall. Incidentally, the water bodies received just about 4 mm-68 mm of rainfall in June 2009.
    In the 24-hour period ending at 3 pm on Wednesday, Modak Sagar received 16 mm of rainfall, while Tansa and Vihar received 24 and 128 mm of rainfall respectively. While Tulsi received 46 mm, Bhatsa got 20 mm of rainfall. Upper Vaitarna, however, which is one of the largest suppliers of water to the city did not receive any rain.
    A senior BMC official said, “As of now, it is too early to talk about lifting or reducing the water cut. The curbs will be in place till July 15. Only after it rains continuously and if there is a marked difference (in the lake levels) will we consider a revision. We are hopeful that things will look up very soon,’’ said civic chief S Kshatriya.
    However, the current stock of water in the lakes is just over half of last year’s. While currently, the lakes have 1.01 lakh litres of water, last year this time, the lakes had 1.80 lakh litres. “Every year, the water stock is supposed to be 13 lakh litres (by October) if the lakes get filled to their brim, to ensure the city sails smoothly throughout the dry period,” an official said.