Mumbai Faces Torrential Downpour: Flights, Trains Disrupted, Red Alert Issued

Heavy Rainfall Batters Mumbai, Disrupts Daily Life

Mumbai and its suburbs experienced torrential rainfall on Sunday, accumulating over 100 mm of precipitation in just 10 hours. This deluge led to severe waterlogging across numerous roads, flight diversions, and disruptions in train services, particularly on the Central Railway section between Dadar and Matunga stations.

Meteorological Alerts and Government Response

The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar until July 24, with an orange alert in Raigad extending until Tuesday. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed all relevant authorities to remain on high alert in response to the heavy rains. Between 8 am and 6 pm on Sunday, Mumbai city recorded 100 mm of rainfall, while the eastern and western suburbs received 118 mm and 110 mm, respectively.

Aviation Chaos

Amid the heavy rains, 36 flights were canceled at Mumbai airport, and 15 flights, operated by airlines including Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa, were diverted to nearby airports. The airport’s runway operations were suspended twice during the day due to the downpour.

Impact on Train Services

Local train services were also significantly affected. The Harbor Line faced delays of 15 to 20 minutes due to waterlogging near Mankhurd, Panvel, and Kurla stations. Although services on the Western Railway section continued normally, the Central Railway's 'Down Fast Line' between Dadar and Matunga stations experienced disruptions. Additionally, waterlogging on the 'Up and Down Fast Line' tracks at Dadar further exacerbated the situation.

Road Closures and Rescue Operations

Heavy rains led to the closure of the Andheri subway at DN Nagar, with traffic diverted via Gokhale Bridge and Thackeray Bridge. A traffic police official reported that 60 tourists were rescued from a hill in Navi Mumbai's Belapur node after becoming trapped by strong water currents. Navi Mumbai received 83.38 mm of rainfall in just five hours, resulting in significant waterlogging in areas such as Vashi, Nerul, and Sanpada. Numerous vehicles were stranded on waterlogged roads in Wadala and Matunga.

Chief Minister's Directive

Chief Minister Shinde has urged officials to stay on high alert, emphasizing the need for the State Disaster Response Force, local administration, municipal bodies, and police to remain vigilant and well-coordinated. He advised maintaining an adequate stock of food, medicines, and relief materials and setting up temporary shelters for both people and animals. Shinde also stressed the importance of constantly updating traffic routes and relief plans based on meteorological data.

Mumbai and the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra continue to grapple with the heavy rains, which have significantly disrupted daily life and transportation.