DNA - Mumbai - Monsoon enters Mumbai - Daily News & Analysis

Monsoon enters Mumbai
Agencies, Wednesday, May 31, 2006 20:21 IST

MUMBAI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The South-West monsoon entered Mumbai with torrential showers lashing the metropolis on Wednesday, injuring six, even as incessant rain continued to pound Kerala and Goa, claiming 11 lives and leaving a trail of destruction.

Heavy rain pelted Maharasthra's coastal Konkan region, where the monsoon was vigorous, hitting train services as weather office predicted more showers in the state.

One person was feared drowned at the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

Three people were injured when lightning struck them and an equal number in a wall collapse in Mumbai where the rains were preceded by gusty wind that uprooted trees and knocked out power at many places.

The monsoon has set over Mumbai, coastal Konkan and parts of South-Central Maharasthra, Deputy Director (Meteorology) Dr C V V Bhadran said in the metropolis.

Konkan and central Maharashtra had widespread rains since last evening with Ratnagiri recording 64 cms. Several trains were left stranded on the Konkan Railway section owing to waterlogging.

Twenty-two fishermen, who ventured into the sea, were reported missing in Kerala where 11 people had perished in heavy rain slamming the state for the past few days.

The fishermen ventured into the sea in two groups on May 25 and 26 from Beypore coast and had not returned to shores so far.

The rains had wreaked havoc in Kerala extensively damaging houses and standing crops and inundating low-lying areas throwing normal life out of gear.

The Kerala government, which sanctioned Rs 6 crore for emergency relief work, announced two-week free rations to those affected by the calamity.

The schools in the state will reopen on June 5 instead of June 1 as most relief camps are set up there.

Showers, accompanied by high-velocity winds, lashed Goa for the fourth day, prompting authorities to shift 300 families living on the outskirts of Margao town to safer places.

Several low-lying areas in south Goa, especially coastal towns, were inundated, prompting evacuation of the marooned, official said in Panaji.

Fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea that was rough due to gusty winds, they said.

Twenty centimetres of rains were recorded in the state since last evening.

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