Mumbai, (The Hindu): One person died, innumerable potholes scarred roads amid widespread waterlogging, Tulsi lake overflowed and schools were closed as Mumbai struggled through its wettest monsoon till July 9 in five years. BMC’s weather stations recorded 78.7mm of rain on Monday, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy rain till July 12 for the city and Palghar.

There appears to be no respite as the rain-soaked weekend continued; the Colaba Observatory recorded 170.6mm of rain while the one at Santacruz recorded 122mm, the latter a city-wide figure. Fort received the most rain at 203mm till 3 p.m., while Marol in the western suburbs received 172mm — 135mm of it falling in just seven hours. Now, Mumbai has received 1,362.8mm of rain till date this monsoon, 54.19% of its annual average.

Tulsi lake, one of the seven that supply water to the city, overflowed at 7.30 a.m. after the area received 134mm of rain on Sunday night. Last year, it had overflowed only on August 14.

Potholes claim life

Kalyan resident Manisha Bhoir, 40, died while returning home on a friend’s bike when it skidded while negotiating potholes at Shivaji Chowk and came under a private bus on Saturday.

Most parts of the city reported heavy waterlogging, including the usual areas like Hindmata, Parel TT, Gandhi Market, Mukhyadhyapak Bhavan and Sion Road No. 24. In the western suburbs, flooding was reported in Bandra Railway Colony and parts of SV Road, due to which traffic was diverted. The Andheri subway was closed to traffic for 30 minutes due to waterlogging.

A total of 37 pump sets were operated in five major pumping stations apart from 144 dewatering pumps used locally.

The BMC Disaster Management Cell received complaints of 23 instances of trees or branches falling, 32 short circuits and 11 slab collapses till Monday morning.

Schools closed

The State government asked schools in the city to remain closed, but it came late for those who had already set out from home. Many parents chose to not send their children to school. In fact, State Education Minister Vinod Tawde tweeted the announcement only at 11.03 a.m. Sarika Mahamunkar, whose son studies at Lodha World School in Lodha Paradise, said: “I decided not to send my son to school since I was worried about the rains. I guessed the school may declare a holiday.”

The deadline for FYJC admission applications was extended from 5 p.m. on Monday till Tuesday.