Mumbai:
In news that could send alarm bells ringing in some quarters, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has revealed that this July has witnessed the most rainfall since the city experienced its worst-ever deluge in July, 2005.
According to data available with the IMD, rainfall recorded in July this year in Santacruz is just 92 mm less than the 1,454.4 mm of rainfall that was recorded in July, 2005, making it the wettest July in the last five years.
On Friday, July 29, the official rain count was 1,097.7 mm rainfall in Santacruz, which skyrocketed to 1,362.9 mm within 48-hours recording an increase of 265 mm rainfall in just two days.
A senior meteorological department official from the city said, "In a span of 24 hours, Colaba recorded 210.9 mm of rainfall while Santacruz recorded 192.4 mm of rain.
After the July 2005 deluge, the rainfall recorded in Santacruz for the month was 1,454.4 mm."
Dr R V Sharma, deputy director general of the meteorological department in Mumbai, said, "In 2005, the city witnessed a record-breaking rainfall of 994 mm of rain on July 26 itself.
However, this July, the rain was consistent throughout the month."