Heavy Rainfall Disrupts Mumbai; Flight Operations and City Services Affected

Heavy rainfall in Mumbai has wreaked havoc on the city's infrastructure, leading to significant disruptions across various services, including air and rail travel. The downpour severely impacted operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, forcing authorities to briefly suspend flight activities at 10:36 am due to poor visibility.

Airport Operations Hit

The adverse weather conditions prompted Air India to issue a precautionary advisory via social media, warning passengers about potential delays for flights to and from Mumbai. The airline urged travelers to account for slow traffic and waterlogged roads, advising them to leave for the airport well in advance.

Local Transport and Infrastructure Challenges

In addition to flight cancellations and delays, the Andheri subway was closed to vehicular traffic due to waterlogging, exacerbating the city's traffic congestion. The Central Railway reported disruptions, with the Panvel-Chouk line suspended since 09:42 am, necessitating the rerouting of Train No. 12126 via Kalyan.

Meteorological Warnings

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Mumbai issued a nowcast warning at 10:00 am, forecasting intense to very intense spells of rain across Mumbai, its suburbs, Thane, Raigad, and the Ghat regions of Pune over the next few hours. IMD Director for Mumbai, Sunil Kamble, highlighted the active monsoon conditions in Maharashtra, noting substantial rainfall totals in Pune and the ghat areas.

Airport's Contingency Measures

As part of its monsoon contingency plan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport announced temporary closures of primary runway 09/27 and secondary runway 14/32 for pre-monsoon maintenance and repair work. A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued to airlines in advance to facilitate rescheduling of flights, ensuring minimal disruption to flight schedules and passenger convenience.

Conclusion

Despite the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and subsequent infrastructure strain, authorities are working to restore normalcy swiftly. Operations at the airport are expected to resume as usual post 5 pm on May 9, 2024, following completion of necessary maintenance tasks. The incident underscores Mumbai's vulnerability to monsoon rains and the city's ongoing efforts to enhance resilience against such natural occurrences.