Mumbai and its neighboring areas faced severe disruption as incessant rainfall led to chaos on Monday. Suburban train services and flight operations were heavily affected, causing widespread disruption. Tragically, an elderly woman lost her life due to burn injuries from a short-circuit amidst the chaos of waterlogged streets and traffic standstills.
Several parts of Mumbai experienced over 300 mm of rainfall within a six-hour period, resulting in flooding in low-lying areas and on roads. Schools were closed, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘red’ alert for further heavy showers expected on Tuesday.
Central Railway services suffered significant disruptions due to waterlogging despite efforts to use high-capacity pumps. Local trains were halted for hours, affecting thousands of passengers, while out-station trains to Mumbai also faced delays and cancellations. Flight operations at Mumbai airport were severely impacted by low visibility, leading to multiple flight cancellations.
Schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Pune, and rural areas of Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg were closed on Tuesday due to the IMD’s heavy rainfall warning. The weather office has issued alerts for several districts, indicating continued rainfall.
Transport services including BEST buses and local train lines experienced reroutes and delays due to waterlogging at key stations and routes. The city also reported incidents of tree falls, short-circuits, and house collapses, highlighting the infrastructure challenges during heavy rains.
Government response included the deployment of National Disaster Response Force teams in various affected areas, while Maharashtra’s Chief Minister chaired emergency meetings to assess the situation.
