Mumbai and its surrounding areas were hit by heavy rain early Monday morning, resulting in extensive waterlogging on major roads and low-lying areas. This led to severe traffic congestion throughout the city and disrupted the daily lives of its residents. Civic officials reported that the city received over 300 mm of rain in a span of six hours from 1 am to 7 am, causing significant water accumulation in several areas such as Andheri, Kurla, Bhandup, King’s Circle, Vile Parle, and Dadar. The relentless rain overwhelmed storm drains, bringing traffic to a halt in many parts of India’s financial capital.
Several areas experienced vehicles drifting in the water as individuals walked through knee-deep waters. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that over 300 millimeters of rain fell in various locations within a six-hour period from midnight yesterday to 7 am today. The heavy rainfall led to waterlogging in low-lying areas and disrupted suburban rail services.
Schools closed:
The BMC has declared a half-day holiday for government and private schools and colleges within the civic body’s authority. An update on the afternoon session of classes will be provided at a later time. Suburban train services and BEST bus services were both affected by heavy rain, leading to diversions of several BEST buses from their usual routes, according to officials.
Trains cancelled: The Central Railway cancelled MMR-CSMT (12110), Pune-CSMT (11010), Pune-CSMT Deccan (12124), Pune-CSMT Deccan (11007) and CSMT-Pune Intercity Express (12127) trains.
Local train services experienced a brief halt due to heavy rainfall, causing disruption in the Central Railway suburban services. The interruption was observed at Sion and between Bhandup and Nahur stations. Trains were temporarily suspended for approximately one hour as the tracks were submerged in rainwater. However, as the water level receded, the train services have now resumed, although some disruptions are still being reported, as stated by a senior official at 8 am.
Airlines release warning: Due to the adverse weather in Delhi, Vistara airline has recommended travelers to adjust their travel plans to the airport accordingly. “Anticipated heavy traffic congestion and slow-moving vehicles enroute to Mumbai Airport today due to weather conditions. Passengers are advised to allocate extra time for their journey to the airport,” stated the airline.
‘STAY HOME’ ADVISORY FROM CIVIC BODY
Rain to continue:
The city is anticipated to experience persistent heavy rainfall over the next few hours. According to the latest forecast from the India Meteorological Department on Monday morning, Mumbai is expected to have a “mostly cloudy sky with moderate to heavy rainfall in the city and surrounding areas.”
Residents of the city are advised by the BMC to prioritize their safety and to leave their homes promptly if required.
“The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai today. With the ongoing rainfall, the entire BMC machinery is actively engaged in the field. Citizens of Mumbai are urged to not pay heed to any rumors. Furthermore, it is recommended to venture outside only in case of necessity. For emergencies, please dial 1916 for immediate assistance,” stated the civic body.
The meteorological department has also cautioned that the city is expected to experience a high tide of 4.2 meters around 2 pm today as a result of the current weather conditions.