Mumbai heaves a sigh of relief as Tauktae effect subsides

The MeT department had warned about the possibility of heavy rain on Tuesday. However, in the western suburbs, the rain receded except for a brief spell of wind

Mumbai: Residents of Mumbai heaved a sigh of relief as the effects of the devastating Cyclone Tauktae reduced on Tuesday.

The severe cyclonic storm claimed a life and uprooted as many as 2,364 trees in the city. Two people who suffered a boat accident are yet to be traced. Mumbai recorded a rainfall of 230 mm in 24 hours, its highest ever for May.

In Maharashtra, a total of 11 people were killed -- four in Raigad, two in Ratnagiri, two in Thane and one each in Mumbai, Sindhudurg and Dhule districts.

The Meteorological Department recorded 230.03 mm rainfall in Santa Cruz and 207.6 mm rainfall in Colaba in the last 24 hours in Mumbai. The MeT department had warned about the possibility of heavy rain on Tuesday as well. However, in the western suburbs, the rain receded except for a brief spell of wind. On Monday, incidents of low-lying areas inundating and damage to houses were reported.

Of the 2,364 trees that were uprooted, 666 fell in the city, 595 in the eastern suburbs and 1,103 in the western suburbs. A woman was killed as a tree fell on her at BDD Chawl, Worli.

A total of 43 houses, including 18 in the city, 18 in the eastern suburbs and seven in the western suburbs collapsed due to heavy rain and gusty winds on Monday. Nine people were injured.

The impact of the cyclone was such that a boat anchored at Madh jetty broke and five people got stuck. Of these, two are still missing.

Helpline receives around 9,817 calls

Pani-stricken residents of Maharashtra's coastal area called the emergency helpline number 1919 as many as 9,817 times with several grievances.

Cyclone Tauktae in Mumbai caused a severe loss to the fishermen. Around 52 fishing boats were damaged at Sassoon Dock (Colaba) port. Two boats sank at Mahim and Madh jetty and another two went missing. Eight people were rescued from these boats. The "New Help Mary Boat" from Thane's Uttan village has been stranded at the sea for the last three days. As the fishermen received little help from the deputy commissioner, they filed a complaint against him with the Chief Minister. "Six fishermen are stranded on the boat," said Devendra Tandel, Chairman, Akhil Maharashtra Macchimar Kruti Samiti.

The cyclonic storm Tauktae uprooted hundreds of trees, some of them centuries-old, in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, blocking several entrances of the park.

The security wall near the historic Gateway of India also bore the brunt of the cyclone. Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar visited the site on Tuesday and passed orders to get the wall repaired.