Mumbai Rain: Traffic Crawls, Tracks Submerged, Flights Affected; Schools, Colleges Shut As IMD Warns Of More Trouble

Heavy rain lashed Mumbai and its suburbs on Wednesday, inundating low-lying areas and affecting local trains, traffic, and flights. However, water in many of the affected areas receded by Thursday morning as rain relented post-midnight. Several videos on social media showed heavy waterlogging on tracks between Kurla and Thane stations, leaving passengers stranded.

Officials told news agency PTI that many flights were diverted or had to make a go-around at Mumbai airport due to inclement weather.

As heavy rain lashed Mumbai, Mulund and its surroundings recorded the heaviest rainfall.

According to a Mumbai civic body official, the city’s eastern suburbs also received very heavy rain, of less than 30 mm before 6 pm on Wednesday.

Significant waterlogging was reported from Kurla, Chembur, Mulund, Vikhroli, Breach Candy and some other areas in Mumbai, where people could be seen wading their way through waist-level water.

Several locals also shared videos of lightning in Mumbai amid heavy rain.

News18 could not confirm the authenticity of the video.

14 FLIGHTS TO MUMBAI DIVERTED, LOCAL TRAINS AFFECTED

Heavy rain led to the diversion of as many as 14 flights to Mumbai on Wednesday. Of these, nine were IndiGo flights alone, which were not given clearance to land in the city due to the inclement weather, an official told PTI.

Of the remaining flights which were instructed by the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to divert to other airports were of Vistara, Air India, Akasa and Gulf Air.

Seven of the diverted flights were instructed to land in Hyderabad, four at Ahmedabad, two at Mopa Airport in Goa and one at Udaipur.

Local train services on the Harbour line were affected on Wednesday but resumed on Thursday morning after the water receded. Earlier, the Central Railways had said that local trains were delayed and were operating at a cautious speed.

Railway commuters were seen walking on tracks at the Chunabhatti Railway station.

In a post on X, Central Railways wrote, “For your safety, please remain inside the train and avoid stepping onto the tracks. Due to heavy rains and waterlogging, local trains are delayed and operating at a cautious speed. We urge passengers to stay on board as you are safest inside the train. As the water recedes, the train will continue its journey to your destination. Your cooperation is essential for ensuring everyone’s safety.”

Later, in a statement, the Western Railway said that despite heavy rain in the city, local trains on Western Railway’s Mumbai Suburban network were running normally.

MUMBAI WEATHER WARNING

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert in the city and its neighbouring districts until Thursday.

The weather department also issued a red alert for Palghar and an orange one for Thane, Raigad, Mumbai and Pune for Thursday. An orange alert was issued for Nashik and Dhule districts in north Maharashtra.

IMD scientist Sushma Nair said a trough runs from north Konkan to south Bangladesh across a cyclonic circulation over south Chhattisgarh and its neighbourhood extending to the middle tropospheric level tilting southwards with height.

“This will lead to fairly widespread to widespread light/moderate rainfall is very likely over Konkan and Goa during the week,” she said.

Isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over Konkan and Goa and central Maharashtra until September 27, the weather department said.

SCHOOLS CLOSED

Amid waterlogging and an alert, all schools and colleges in Mumbai and its suburbs were declared closed on September 26 (Thursday). The notification regarding the holiday was issued by School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar.

“All schools and colleges under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s jurisdiction will remain closed on Thursday, considering the safety of the students,” the BMC also issued a statement.

The civic body also appealed to citizens to step out of their homes only if necessary.

“Commuters are advised to check weather updates and plan accordingly,” it said.

Schools in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad were also ordered closed for today, Pune District Collector Dr Suhas Diwase announced, as the weather department issued an orange alert in Pune for today.

CIVIC AUTHORITIES ISSUE ORDERS

City civic commissioner Bhushan Gagrani on Wednesday asked all assistant commissioners to ensure that respective executive engineers stayed put in ward control rooms.

He also directed chief engineers of the Stormwater Drains (SWD) department to ensure SWD staff was on the field and de-watering pumps were operational.

Deputy chief engineers were asked to be available in their respective zones at night, Gagrani added.

All Deputy Municipal Commissioners were also directed to monitor the situation in their respective zones.

WOMAN DROWNS IN NULLAH

Amid heavy rain, a 45-year-old woman drowned in an overflowing nullah on Wednesday. The incident happened in suburban Andheri at nearly 9.20 pm, near gate number 8 of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Andheri East. The victim was identified as Vimal Anil Gaikwad.

Local police and the fire brigade were alerted and they took the woman to the Cooper Hospital where she was declared brought dead.