Areas in Kurla along the LBS Road might be spared of heavy flooding this monsoon, with the BMC cleaning a drain under the busy thoroughfare for the first time. The civic body is using a super sucker machine to desilt the culvert that discharges into the Mithi river. In case of favourable results, the corporation will use the suction technology to clear scores of culverts in the suburbs.

An official said humans can’t clean the full length of a culvert between chambers. “As the culvert is closed, we can clean the full length of the drain with this machine. Slit has accumulated nearly up to 1 metre high and the drain height is 1.2 metres. The work started 15 days ago and we will take a few more days to complete,” a BMC official said.