Mumbai Deluge: Four Lives Lost as Rain Disrupts City Life

Mumbai has been hit hard by torrential rains, resulting in four fatalities, including a 45-year-old woman who drowned in an overflowing nullah in Andheri. The relentless downpour has led to significant flooding, crippling the city and prompting the closure of schools on Thursday, September 26.

In the span of one evening, certain areas recorded nearly 275 mm (11 inches) of rain, causing severe disruptions to road traffic and delays in local train services that millions rely on daily. Fortunately, the Central Railways announced that local train operations resumed at Andheri station on Thursday morning as water levels subsided after a night of intense rainfall.

### Key Updates on the Mumbai Rain Situation:

1. *Weather Warnings*: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai, forecasting more heavy rain. In response, local authorities declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in the city, while Pune has done the same for its educational institutions.
  
2. *Train Services*: Central Railways confirmed that local trains are now operating normally, albeit with delays of 3-4 minutes on the main line due to rescheduled services. Harbour line trains resumed cautiously at a restricted speed of 25 km/h after water receded late Wednesday night.

3. *Safety Advisory*: An advisory has been issued to commuters due to waterlogged tracks, urging them to avoid stepping onto the tracks and to remain inside the trains for safety, following reports of individuals walking on the tracks at Chunabhatti Station.

4. *Traffic Disruptions*: Several neighborhoods, including Kurla East, Nehru Nagar, and Chembur, faced significant waterlogging and traffic jams. The Kurla Bridge was particularly affected by heavy congestion on Wednesday night.

5. *Public Transport Resumption*: Buses operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) resumed service early Thursday morning, helping to alleviate some transportation issues.

6. *Airport Disruptions*: The downpour led to the diversion of 14 incoming flights at Mumbai Airport, with nine of these being IndiGo flights unable to land due to the severe weather.

7. *Landslide Incident*: A landslide occurred at the Mumbra bypass around 11:30 PM on Wednesday, further complicating travel in the area.

8. *Casualties*: The tragic drowning of a woman in Andheri highlights the dangers posed by the heavy rains, which have caused extensive flooding throughout the city.

9. *Rainfall Statistics*: According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the island city and its suburbs recorded 87.79 mm, 167.48 mm, and 95.57 mm of rainfall between 5 PM and 10 PM.

As the city works to recover from this deluge, residents are urged to stay safe and monitor updates from local authorities.